Lenten Joy?

The Call to Conversion

During Lent we hear what I consider to be the top three gospel stories that focus on conversion. The stories are the woman at the well, the curing of the blind man and the raising of Lazarus. All three speak of the power of Jesus to heal spirit and body. The questions that are asked and the responses Jesus gives cause us to pause and ponder. The woman says she is seeking water, and Jesus declares, “I am the living water.” The man desires to see, and Jesus gives sight as He declares, “I am the light of the world”. Martha complains that her brother has died, and Jesus says that he is only asleep and declares that He is the Life. Our Franciscan way is a way of continual conversion. These three stories help us to continually ask the questions:

• For what do I thirst? 
• What are my blind spots; what do I need to see? 
• What is dead in me that needs to awaken to the call of Christ? 

If you thirst, Jesus has living water to quench your thirst and set you free. If you are blind, Jesu has light so that you may see clearly. If your spirit is dead, Jesus is the resurrection and the life and thus the source of hope. These three questions can aid us as we prepare to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation this Lenten season. These three responses from Jesus are gifts beyond measure for a healthy, spiritual life. 

Drink of His living water and remember your own baptism. Open your eyes and rejoice in the light. Come out of the tomb, be untied from whatever binds you and live your life to the fullest. The Scriptures are rich in truth, in comfort and in challenge. Dwell with them as a way to live our Franciscan value of conversion and experience the peace that awaits you.

Letting Go During Lent

“What are you giving up for Lent?” That was a question asked years ago before we thought about Lent in terms of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Maybe this Lent could be an opportunity for a slightly different approach. How about if we focus on letting go as it relates to prayer, fasting and almsgiving?

Letting go of what we have gathered is not easy and, in fact, can be quite overwhelming. “Where do I start?” “How can I get through everything?” “I might as well give up!” The good news is that we can begin by asking the Lord’s assistance through prayer. We will succeed when we take things step by step, one drawer, one box, one cabinet at a time. We will be bound to discover things that can be given away. That stuff will enable us to engage in almsgiving. Letting go of the extra stuff or streamlining our possessions can be a form of fasting. The result will be a lightness of spirit, a glorious experience of freedom, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment this Lent. What a marvelous Easter we will enjoy!    

Lent: A Season of Hope

The strange thing about the season of Lent is that we often interpret it to be a season of doom and gloom. Yet for us, it is more authentically the season of preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are invited to think about how we to prepare for these events.

How can we empty ourselves to find space to love and bring hope to others? We may have to think about how to love others in a new way.

How can I empty myself of some of my anxiety to find hope? There have been stories of hope all over: the blue skies in Wuhan, the clear water in the Venice canals, the healthcare workers caring tirelessly even with great personal risk, and the creative ways people are avoiding isolation. Reminding myself of these moments helps fill some of my mental space with hope and encourages me to find ways to bring hope to others through new forms of digital ministry as we are learning from our many Zoom experiences.

This season invites us all into finding hope and working towards love in new and significant ways as we prepare for the coming Easter season. My prayer is that you have a hope-filled Lent.