Listen to the fifth and final episode of our Lent Podcast, ‘Lent and Loving’

Welcome to the final week of our Lent 2025 podcast series, The Joys of Lent, brought to you by St Augustine’s College of Theology.

Will you dare to love as Christ loves?

For the final, rousing episode, our principal, Alan Gregory, invites you to think about human nature, particularly love.

While philosopher Thomas Hobbes famously described life as ‘nasty, brutish, and short,’ modern research suggests that humans are uniquely capable of cooperation and social bonds.

From everyday acts like queuing to relationships, we are wired for connection.

Alan challenges us to not settle for simple views of cooperation or selfishness but to look for a deeper wisdom—one that welcomes our flaws and our potential for love.

A man and a woman on a train touching faces, suggesting they are in love and happy.

A call to love this Lenten season

At the heart of Alan’s reflection is a call to embrace love in its fullest form. Eros—the longing for beauty, justice, and transcendence—stirs our hearts. But it’s agape, the self-giving love of God, that transforms the world.

Lent is a time to practice this radical love: to forgive, serve, and extend kindness even when it is difficult. Alan reminds us that love is not always easy but necessary.

Planting the seeds of God’s Kingdom

As Lent draws to a close, Alan encourages us to take small steps toward love, trusting that it will grow into something greater.

Alan leaves you with a final question: Will you dare to love as Christ loves?

How to listen to the episodes

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Lent 2025 Podcast.

You can tune in to The Joys of Lent wherever you get your podcasts. Just search ‘St Augustine’s College Audio Retreats’ to listen or click the podcast player below.

You can also listen to episode one by following this link to the YouTube version of the episode.