Lent 2026: Borders and Belonging

“God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.”  St. Bonaventure 

“The prophetic position is inhabiting the inside of the outside edge” Richard Rohr

INTRODUCTION

This picture by Susie Hamilton from the Methodist Modern Art Collection is titled Ecce Homo, or Behold the man. It’s concerned with John 19:4-7 where Jesus is presented by Pilate to the crowds. Since the 9th century it’s been a consistent subject of interest for artists. In this depiction the outstretched arms may indicate openness or what is to come, suffering and crucifixion, the direction in which Jesus’ life would seem to inevitably lead . The blurred edges are striking and somewhat disturbing. They ask me if I see clearly and specifically the person, are they in focus or merely a blur to me? The picture asks me whether this actually captures something essential about the life of Jesus, about his view of and relationship with borders (social and personal) and his empathy with those who suffer abuse and violence.

Interfaces and Edges

This Lent we will be looking at some of the interfaces and edges that Jesus poked at, crossed, trod, lived and blurred geographically, politically, physically, theologically and socially. And in so doing Jesus posed questions about porosity and borders, about in and out and crucially about belonging.

Weekly reflections, from various writers, will start on Wednesday 18th February.