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From the Pastor’s Desk
Catholics are familiar with the season of Lent, but maybe for the wrong reasons. For the most part Lent has been experienced too often as a season for the giving up of so-called “creature comforts” like ice cream, chocolate or another favorite food. These can be linked to the ancient Lenten discipline of fasting (which also includes abstaining from certain foods). But when this becomes the sole observance of this holy season, one should ask, “Am I doing this right?”
Lent is, first of all, a season to get us ready to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection – an event that changed everything. From Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday, the Church will commemorate the events that brought the world salvation in Jesus Christ. He left us the everlasting memorial of the Mystery in the gift of Eucharist at the Last Supper. Then on the cross of Good Friday, in his burial in a tomb and then in the glory of his Resurrection Christ has shown us the path to conversion. Lent asks us that in these next six-plus weeks we get serious about changing our lives in the same way that Christ was serious in his commitment to save us.
It’s too simple to just give up some creature comforts here and there. A real change involves a spiritual change – down to the very core of our being. Repentance from sin means giving up those things that may seem pleasing, but move us farther and farther away from God. So, what’s the real change that needs to happen in you, not just to lose a few pounds, but to shed a sinful self with the help of God’s abundant grace?
Love,
Fr. Tom