Letter from the Pastor
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February 19, 2023Ready or not, Lent arrives this Wednesday. Lived well, Lent will convert the heart and transform our life. That's the whole point of the season — to die to our old self and rise anew, just like Easter. Lent is a 40-day journey in becoming ever closer to the Lord and His way of life. To be rid of those actions or attitudes which are not Christian. It helps us to be able to love deeper, to forgive and be forgiven; to become more disciplined in the Christian way of living. It is a season of great grace and help.
As we know, change is never easy or painless. Lent should never be looked at as a burden; rather, it is an opportunity to grow and to change. Lent is a time to grow deeper in love with God. God wants to be loved, just as we want to be loved. As in all loving relationships, one cannot be passive, but active in pursuing our beloved. We do that by deepening our prayer life, our charity and our self-discipline.
If you don’t go to Mass on a regular basis, then start. If you attend Mass every Sunday, go another day or days during the week. If you don’t pray a daily rosary, start. If you pray one rosary, perhaps try another during the day. If you don’t sit in silent prayer, get up a half hour earlier, before the rest of the family gets up, and sit and read or meditate on an aspect of God, or your life.
When is the last time you read a spiritual book? In our lobby there is a kiosk of Lenten books and CD’s; take one. There is also the library in Doyle Center. Avail yourself to the books there. Turn off the TV and read instead or listen to a religious podcast or lecture on the faith.
Lent is the time when we live, once again, a life of repentance and forgiveness by disciplining ourselves, so that nothing prevents us from hearing God's voice and seeking Him out. Go to confession.
We need to understand Lent from the standpoint of Easter. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. Easter is not just a day of remembrance of the historical fact of Christ's resurrection. Easter is the time when God lets the flood of His divine mercy and grace pour down upon us.
At no time in the year do we get so much grace as at Easter time. Everything is new.
In the silence of our own hearts, if we're honest, we know we hunger for something more than our own selfishness and mistakes. Are you happy with yourself? What do want to change? What ails you spiritually? With the medicine of prayer, almsgiving and fasting, we can be healed.
Please don’t waste the next 40 days. From today until Wednesday, develop a plan for your Lenten journey, so that when Easter arrives on April 9th, you will experience a spiritual joy and rebirth to a new life.
I wish to thank an anonymous donor who purchased copies of Magnificat Lenten Companion. The booklet has very good spiritual readings and follows the readings and prayers of the Mass. Each family, please take one, and use it for the spiritual journey of Lent.
Have a Blessed Lent 2023.
