The word “Lent” is an ancient word for spring. We look for new life to appear as we thaw out our frozen attitudes
and substitute virtues in their place. It’s a time for clearing and cleansing our hearts, minds and voices. It’s a time for planting seeds of faith, hope and love in our lives. As we do this, we are conscious that one day, the Day of the Lord, there will be a harvest.
Each of us has our unique faith journey. Even those of us who were raised in the same family, with the same relatives going to the same church still interpret what each of us sees, hears, feels and knows to be true. This is our personal journey of faith. Lent is a perfect time to re-examine what we believe and consider our lives of faith, hope and love. At the end of our lives, will it matter how far off the beaten path we ventured, or how many pagan and false religions we delved into?
Yes.
How faithful have we been to our faith and the words of Jesus?
The word “catholic” means “universal.” Jesus came to earth to separate truth from fiction. So many people had mixed up myth with faith. Even the faith of the Old Testament had mixed up priorities. Jesus came to straighten out our priorities, and focus our thoughts of eternal happiness in heaven as something to look forward to at the end of our lives. No one lives forever, at least here on earth. This part we all know to be true. This is a universal truth for each one of us. Jesus promised that after this vale of tears, when we arrive in his Kingdom our sorrow would be turned into joy.
Our Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, and Father of Jesus, gives us hope in this Fourth Week of Lent, through the inspired writing of Isaiah 65:17-21. Here Isaiah points to the our future expectations we can meditate on:
“Thus says the Lord:
“Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth;
“The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind.
“Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create;
“For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight;
“I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.
“No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying;
“No longer shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
“or an old man who does not round out his full life time;
“He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
“and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
“They shall live in houses they build, and eat of the fruit of the vineyards they plant.”
Lent gives is six weeks to prepare for the Paschal Mystery, Easter. Jesus did a similar 40 day reflection when He fasted in the desert following His baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus made new choices and changed the direction of His life after His 40-day reflection. Up until this moment, Jesus was known as the carpenter’s son, and practiced the carpenter’s trade, helping his friends and neighbors by building tables and chairs and other wooden household items.
After his 40-day fast in the desert, after He reflected on God His Father and the mission entrusted to Him as Savior, the Messiah who had long been foretold, Jesus immediately made the necessary changes to fulfill the will of His Heavenly Father. From this moment on, Jesus left no stone unturned. Absolutely nothing was left behind, even when it cost him his reputation in his hometown, or with the Temple authorities, nor with the complete oblation of his body and blood in His Passion and death on the cross.
We are asked to carry our own cross in the face of public opinion. Here are some questions we can ask ourselves as we meditate on things we might like to improve:
Who am I really trying to please?
What does my 40 days of prayer, meditation and reflection mean to me?
Is something jumping out to the forefront of my mind that I need to work on?
Is there something I can discuss with my family to improve relationships while we are cloistered in our homes?
Is there any addiction I need to address?
How is my speech?
Am I generous?
Do I hoard my goods?
Do I eat too much?
Do I drink too much?
Am I addicted to anything, including drugs?
How is my relationship with my spouse?
How is my relationship with my children?
How is my relationship with my parents, no matter how old I am?
How is my relationship with my neighbors?
Do I pray?
Do I meditate?
Do I spend time with spiritual reading?
Do I forgive as Jesus taught us to in the Our Father prayer, in order that I be forgiven?
Do I have hope?
Do I speak words of hope and inspiration to others?
Do I have faith in God, Father of Jesus?
Do I have faith in Jesus Christ?
Do I have faith in the Holy Spirit?
Do I share my faith?
How do I share my faith?
Is my love conditional?
Is my love unconditional?
Do I trust others?
Do I need to heal any relationships?
If my mother is alive, can I repair a broken relationship with her?
If my father is alive, can I repair a broken relationship with him?
Do I have broken relationships that are in need of healing?
Can I forgive myself for my past failings?
What is stopping me from forgiving?
Do I justify my thoughts?
Do I justify my words?
Do I justify by actions?
Do I justify my non-actions?
Do I realize that justifying myself is a sign of unchecked pride?
Do I realize that pride which stops healing in relationships is a sin?
Am I humble?
Am I kind?
Am I trustworthy?
Am I honest?
Am I pure of heart?
Am I pure of thought?
Am I pure in deed?
Do I love myself as a child of God, Father of Jesus?
Do I need to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Reconciling with God and with those we need to make up with heals us in mind, body and spirit. Let us not let the biggest sin, that of pride, get in the way of healing ourselves. We still have time in this Lenten season, to make a new start. We remember that in the end, it is Jesus we will face. Let us straighten out our lives now while we can.
How is the best way to make a new start? Begin with the Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love. Every other positive thing we can all do this Lent is built on this firm foundation.
God Bless