The Belfast Jesuit Centre for Spirituality in the City offered a course entitled ‘Lent: A journey of Love and Therapy for Life’s Changes.’ It began on Ash Wednesday and focussed each week on the Sunday readings for Lent. 

Gerry Clarke SJ offered the course which had its own personal resonance for him. “A series of deaths in my own family led me to many solitary moments at the end of the South Wall in Dublin Bay, asking, begging, pleading for an understanding of these hurts in life. I suppose, I chose not to ignore the feelings and was gifted with time and friendships to help me understand them. But even if we choose to ignore them, the feelings are there. Change in life provokes deep feelings in us and as we dwell on these feelings we enter a flow of thoughtfulness.” 

The Lenten readings were a 6-week course in God’s love for all of life’s changes, says Gerry, who called them, “A kind of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for believers.” Those who took part reflected on rich texts from the Old Testament as well as the Sunday gospels. “They reflected as a community and found that the Scriptures offer rich therapy for life’s changes,” says Gerry, adding, “They tell us something about God’s love for us and the message deepened and quietened within us with the passing of each week.” 

Ash Wednesday: The Journey begins; God loving me as I start the journey 
1st Sunday of Lent: God helping me to face my demons Temptation in the Desert 
2nd Sunday of Lent: God with me in moments of clarity and moments when I forget the transfiguration on Mount Tabor. 
3rd Sunday of Lent: God knowing me to the depth of my heart; The Samaritan Woman at the Well 
4th Sunday of Lent: God healing me where I most need it; The Man born blind: healed 
5th Sunday of Lent: With God there is even more than only this life; The Raising of Lazarus 
Palm Sunday: This is God’s love; The Passion according to Matthew 

Jesuits in Ireland