Lent invites us to remember who we are

02-27-2022Pastor's CornerRev. Robert J. Deehan, V.F.

The time is going by quickly! Can you believe that Lent begins this Wednesday, March 2? If you haven’t thought much about what you’ll do for Lent this year, here are some things to think about. Lent is a season in the Church year when Catholics prepare for the celebration of Easter. We’re invited to renew our baptismal promises, reject Satan and all his empty promises and pledge anew our commitment to follow Christ more closely. We work at transforming our lives so that we can be more authentically Christ-like, and as a result, experience a true joy, peace and spiritual integrity.

This effort culminates in the celebration of the new, risen life of Jesus at Easter. With the power of the risen Christ, our Lenten practices will lead us into a death to selfishness and sin, and a resurrection to new life.

Lent invites us to remember who we are… what we’re to be about… and where we’re going. Am I living as a true son or daughter of God? Do I live the kind of life Jesus calls me to live? Am I mindful that this world is not my final destination and I will have to account for how I have used the life God has given me? This season invites us to get rid of the distractions that blind us to the deeper truths of our lives and reminds us of what is really important. One important way to do this is to build silence into every day – a few minutes just to be quiet and invite the Lord to remind us of His love, to provide an insight or inspiration, and incline us to some action. The traditional spiritual practices of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charitable works). How can you and I be creative and positive in the ways we put these into practice? Attending daily Mass is a valuable way to reflect on the Word of God, and be strengthened and renewed by the Lord’s divine life in Eucharist. Perhaps it’s fasting from or limiting activities and habits (e.g. smart phone) that prevent us from being attentive to the needs of family members and others who need us. What can you and I do to give of ourselves, rather than merely send a few dollars to charity? Start the season of Lent by participating in our Ash Wednesday “Day of Open Doors.” Invite a family member or friend who hasn’t been to church in a while to accompany you. Beginning the season of Lent by making a good Confession is a wonderful way to press “reset” as we seek to reflect all the more the image of Christ. Pray for yourself, your loved ones and everyone on this Lenten journey, that this may be a truly blessed and fruitful season, which will provide us with good reason to celebrate the transforming power of the risen Christ at Easter.