Theology of the Cross

September 30 marks a relatively new "cause day" in Canada. Since 2013, the day has been set aside as "Orange Shirt Day", a day to remember and honour the survivors of a dark chapter in Canadian history: residential schools.

Yesterday I shared some words from a pastor who wrote a poetic reflection on what Lent is. The last thought was this:

Lent is
Not a very happy time,
But it is what
You have to go through
To get to Easter.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. In ancient times, people would physically show their repentance by sitting in sackcloth—a rough, burlap-like fabric—and ashes. It was a way to demonstrate to others that you were really sorry for a wrongdoing of some kind.