Pathway into Lent

Welcome to The Pathway into Lent

          Well, we made it through January, the first month of the Gregorian calendar.  It was named after Janus, the Roman god of all beginnings.  While looking up some January facts, to share with you, I was surprised to learn that January replaced March as the first month of the Roman year no later than 153 BCE.  (Britannica)

          In ancient Roman culture, Jānus was a god of doorways, beginnings, and the rising and setting of the sun. His name comes from the Latin jānus, meaning “doorway, archway, arcade.”  As the god of transitions and dualities, Janus is portrayed with two faces—one facing the past, and one facing the future. He also holds a key in his right hand, which symbolizes his protection of doors, gates, thresholds, and other separations or openings between spatial boundaries. (Britannica) 

          Fun fact: the closely related Latin word jānua, meaning “door, doorway, entrance,” ultimately gives us the word janitor, which originally referred to a door attendant or porter before evolving to its more familiar sense of “custodian.”  (Britannica)

          Most years, at the beginning of January, I find myself reminiscing over the past months, before releasing them, and moving forward into the new year.  Maybe you do, as well.  We have made our way into January, moving through each of the doorways and archways, following our paths, which led us onward into that which is new, that which is the present with us.  We hold the keys to opening all doors and gates which sit before us.  We have The Wisdom of The Holy Spirit, within us.  And The Spirit is waiting to comfort, guide, teach, and to be our advocate in all times, in all ways.  We have taken the adventure through January and we are well situated in the month of February.  Onward we go, without hesitation, heartache or woe.  I invite you to join me as we journey farther into February, stepping onto The Pathway into Lent.

          The reading I have chosen today is from Psalm 102:25

The Reading

February 11, 2024

“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.”  Psalm 102:25