{"id":13313,"date":"2026-02-04T12:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T12:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leedsjp.org.uk\/?post_type=views&p=13313"},"modified":"2026-10-06T09:45:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T08:45:45","slug":"lent-reflection-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c4652100.myzen.co.uk\/jp2026\/2026\/02\/04\/lent-reflection-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Lent Reflection Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\nby Sara Forrest, Commission Member<\/em>

Looking forward to the start of Lent, I thought I would suggest some ideas for reflection and prayer. The first is a book, by James Martin SJ. My other suggestions are musical, music can engage us on a deeper level and there is a long tradition of folk music voicing the concerns and feelings of the ordinary people. Such songs can give us knowledge and help us gain new insight strengthening our contemplation and prayer.

\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Jesus: A Pilgrimage by\u00a0James Martin<\/a>

<\/div><\/div>This long book tells the story of Jesus’ life using the four Gospels and overlays the story with the tale of James\u2019 pilgrimage to the Holy Land visiting the places where it happened. His reflections on the Gospels are thought provoking. I especially liked his views on Martha and Mary because as a strong believer in Christianity being about both prayer and reaching out and helping the marginalised I have often heard homilies that talk about prayer only.

It is an easy read, as was his book on Building A Bridge<\/a>. I may also look out for his The Jesuit Guide to (almost) everything<\/a> too.

\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Vietnam War inspired many American writers in in 60s and 70s. Tom Paxton\u2019s “Peace Will Come” is itself a prayer. Other Paxton tracks that may inspire are “The Thought Stayed Free”, “When Princes Meet”, “There Goes The Mountain”, “The Death of Stephen Biko”. Last year he wrote “No Kings Here”

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n