A Lenten Reflection: Walking in Wisdom. March 2025

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. It is a time when we pause to consider our journey with Christ, asking how we might walk more faithfully in His ways.

One of the greatest gifts God gives us is wisdom—the ability to discern what is right and to make choices that honour Him.

A simple but powerful story perhaps illustrates this well:

A wise old man and his grandson were walking through the village when they came across two wolves fighting. One wolf was fierce and aggressive, full of anger and hatred. The other was calm, patient, and full of peace. The boy asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The old man replied, “The one you feed.”

Lent invites us to consider which ‘wolf’ we are feeding in our own lives. Are we feeding fear, division, and self-interest? Or are we feeding love, peace, and faithfulness? Every decision we make—both personally and as a Church—shapes the path ahead.

This is particularly relevant today. In the Church of England, we face decisions about our identity, unity, and mission in an increasingly complex world. Do we respond with grace, wisdom, and courage? Do we listen for God’s voice in Scripture and prayer, or are we swayed by fear and uncertainty?

The wider world also faces weighty decisions. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine reminds us of the tragic consequences when pride, power, and aggression take precedence over peace and reconciliation. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), to pray fervently for those suffering, and to support efforts for justice and healing.

So, this Lent, let us choose wisely. Let us be people who seek God’s wisdom in all things—whether in our churches, in our communities, or in the world. As James reminds us: “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

May we hunger for this kind of wisdom, and may our choices reflect the love and truth of Christ.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, in this season of Lent, guide our hearts and minds to seek Your wisdom. Help us to make choices that honour You, to be peacemakers in a divided world, and to walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. May our churches be places of love, truth, and unity, shining Your light into the world. Amen.

With every blessing this Lent,

Revd Paul

The Revd Paul Wilson

Rector of the Epworth Group of Churches

Priest-in-Charge of the Belton Group of Churches

Assistant Curate of the Crowle Group of Churches and the Haxey and Owston Ferry Plurality

Rural Dean of the Isle of Axholme Deanery