The season of Lent begins on Wednesday. It is my hope that each of us will take this season seriously and enter into it with the upmost spirit of faith. This past year has been a small glimpse into this penitential season. We have been thrust by a virus into deserted places, but despite of all this may we become convinced of the healing reality of Christ Jesus.
In our Gospel our Lord encounters this leper and through the spirit of faith that this leper displayed He stretched forth His Hand and made him clean. Likewise, each of us are in need of this healing relationship with our Lord, but we so often keep Him at a distance due to our lack of faith. Through our Lenten journey we ought to reorient our life towards Christ in order that we may accept His healing touch with a spirit of faith.
Lent becomes a time in which many forgo something which they enjoy in order to follow the perceived letter of the law. My question always remains, how does giving up chocolate reorient your life towards Christ? In undergoing this season we ought to pray concerning the practices that we will undertake in order that we may grow close to the Lord. If there is a temptation or sin which plagues us this season should serve as a vessel which redirects our life unto the Lord.
Therefore, the three marks of Lent remain prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer ought to be first and foremost within our life for it draws us into relationship with the Lord. Our parish has Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday and Saturdays and our church remains open throughout the week. Maybe Lent would be the perfect time to undertake Eucharistic devotion. Also, don’t forget that we have the Stations of the Cross each Friday for this was the day that our Lord died upon the cross. If you are unable to pray them in common with our local community pray them at some point within the church or do so at home.
One challenge that we make to you as a parish community is to call a member of our parish each day during Lent just to see how they are doing. We are calling this the “Staying in Touch Lenten Challenge.” On table located at the back of the church we have various Lenten materials including the rice bowl which you can take home with you to put any excess change. We also cannot forgot that our parish food pantry challenges us “40 cans in 40 days.”
Let us remain attentive during this penitential season which now lies before us and through it may we further prepare the way for the Lord’s Resurrection
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