Let me begin by connecting 2 sources that are helping me get ready for this Lenten season. The first is an ancient question: why did God make me? Some of you already know the answer: God made us to share his love & joy: to be joyful here on earth & joyful with God forever in heaven. We’re here to love God & each other, and to do the good works God gave us to do, things only WE can do. It’s a way of showing God we DO care for Him, the world, & one another. The 2nd source helping me get ready for Lent is mentioned in Billy Eilish’s Grammy-winning Song of the Year entitled “What Was I Made For?” It’s another way of asking “why did God make me?” In her song, she admits that things are NOT great right now: she feels sad, she’s forgotten how to feel, & forgotten how to be happy. But she has HOPE that she CAN be happy, when she figures out her purpose in this life. YES!
The Good News is that JESUS has given us the ingredients to have purpose & be happy: the ingredients are the recipe for Lent, and a well-balanced Lent can refocus our hearts, & can renew our spirits. Lent ALSO gets us ready to celebrate what’s most important for us who name ourselves as Catholic Christians: it prepares us for an Easter victory with Jesus Christ, when we celebrate the POWER of His light over all the sadnesses & darknesses in this life. It’s good and honest to admit that things are NOT perfect now, and that we trust God that our lives CAN get better.
So how does this work exactly? Well, in the ancient languages, Lent means “springtime,” a rebirth & a renewal of ALL the good and holy things God has planted in us long ago. Like what? Like the ability to forget about OURSELVES for a bit, to concentrate on others. & when we give others good-hearted attention, we’re ALSO praising God who made us. That’s a 2 for 1 special that beats the 2 for 1 Wednesday specials at Carvel! If you have a computer, or can get a copy of our bulletin, there’s a whole page of WAYS to LIVE LENT for others, WHILE at the same time taking good care of ourselves.
Example: it’s not a secret that specialty drinks can cost as much as $5 per cup; & a lot of them are filled with “fluff” and not a lot of “stuff!” If we were to sacrifice that cup once or twice, we can actually put FOOD on someone’s table, and feed them with necessities by denying ourselves something we just WANT. We can make a donation to our Food Pantry or to the Poor Box at the doors of the Church. That’s a VERY practical sacrifice, & a sacrifice done with a pure heart is a fine & holy act. Another example: if we are struggling to forgive someone for hurts they have caused us over the years, & we’re still NOT at the point of forgiving them, how about adding a daily prayer to our Lenten prayers, one like this: “Jesus, I want to forgive this person, but I’m not there yet: give me the DESIRE to forgive them, so I can stop carrying this burden of sorrow, & experience YOUR inner freedom & love. Amen.”
Hopefully, you can HEAR in these examples that Jesus is READY to restore joy in our heart IF we are ready to take the steps to RECEIVE the wisdom & guidance he’s trying to give us. Frankly, I don’t find ANYONE else in the world EXCEPT JESUS offering us this help, because there IS no substitute for Jesus. The season of Lent about becoming more like Jesus in our thoughts, words, & deeds. Let’s pray for one another in this season, that EACH of us will keep GROWING in love. For God is love, & whoever lives in love lives in God, & God is alive in that person. Amen.
