Month: February 2015
Rite of the Elect
StandardYesterday was the first Sunday in Lent, when the Bishops greet those in their Diocese who are preparing for their baptism into the Catholic Church.
One year ago, I was one of the Elect, called by name at our Cathedral. I met our Bishop, and I signed my name in the book. There were prayers, and hymns. My family was there, my husband, my kids; my priest and a church friend standing in as sponsor.
The nervousness of being on display subsided with a calm I’ve only found through Jesus; that unfailing faith that only He can bring.
Surety.
This decision was unwavering; the only one before or since.
Prompt from Blogging 101
StandardThis weekend, I’m going on a the-day retreat. I’m looking forward to being energized and rejuvenated, and I’ve been thinking of my recent retreats and how to use my time this Lent to keep that energy flowing.
Tell us about the last experience you had that left you feeling fresh, energized, and rejuvenated. What was it that had such a positive effect on you?
Led by the Spirit
StandardLed by the spirit of our G-d, we go to fast and pray
With Christ into the wilderness; we join his paschal way.
“Rend not your garments, rend your hearts.
Turn back your lives to me.”*
This was our closing hymn on this first Sunday of Lent. As soon as those words came from my lips, I was reminded that Lent is not a solitary disposition.
As we fast and pray throughout the rest of these forty days, Christ is with us as He is always with us.
It is not solitary, but it is also not public. No need to make a show of our sacrifices, our abstentions, to announce our Lenten deeds by rending our garments for the world to see. Instead keep Lent where it is supposed to be: in our hearts where G-d can always see our underlying intentions.
* adaptation by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
Transformation
StandardIn today’s reflection from Give Us This Day, Fr. Paul Boudreau wrote,
“The love of Jesus makes water into wine, traitors into apostles, and is given to us in order to transform the world, starting with ourselves and the people we encounter today.”
Transformation can be a somewhat daunting prospect when looked at as the big picture of our lives; as a journey’s end rather than the journey itself. However, as we teach kids to walk beginning with baby steps, we can see that transformation is best achieved with baby steps.
Little by little, through Jesus’ love and our self-awareness, we can follow our transformation, and reflect on it quietly and thoughtfully in small increments that we each find doable.
As We Journey, We Do Our Best
StandardI’ve been very lucky that G-d led me to the parish I’m in. When I began attending Mass, the parish priest was in Rome. When he returned, I was hesitant; he wasn’t who I was used to, but it didn’t take long for me to love his way of expressing things. He spoke to me, seemingly out of the blue, but clearly with G-d’s hand on his choices, ones that would stand out to my ears.
One of those apparently innocuous statements was at the end of my first summer.
As we journey, we do our best.
It was simple. Straightforward. Easy to remember and easy to follow; a new mantra for me to take on my new journey.
As we journey, we do our best.
Lent is one of those times of the year that we try to do our best. We give something up, we take something in. We attend Mass more faithfully.
I’ve been struggling with what to give up, but in remembering that Lent is between me and G-d, I’ve decided to keep it to myself for now, maybe for the entirety of the forty days.
Sometimes it’s easier to do my best without eyes looking over my shoulder for if and when I falter.
Lenten Reflection – Lifelong Conversion
StandardThe story of Lydia in Acts “…shows that conversion is not just a one-time event but a lifelong process.”
I read this in the May 26th meditation from The Word Among Us, and coming then so close to my sacraments in joining the Catholic Church it really stood out to me. For me personally, I had been attending daily Mass for over two years before my baptism. Without the holy water, I still felt a member of the church and my fellow parishioners treated me that way as well. I was welcomed as one of them from the very beginning; no strings attached.
Now, as my first full year as a Catholic comes to a close, it is less a closing than it is an opening into my lifelong conversion. There are still so many things to learn and to discern that one lifetime may not be enough.
I think of Christ every day and throughout the day, whether I go to a Mass or not. He is in my heart and in my life, and I have no doubts that He always will be.
My conversion will never be complete, and knowing that lets me know that there is always something else to strive for; whether it be continued enlightenment and spiritual desires or a deeper understanding of Jesus’ and Christianity’s history and my ongoing commitment to become a better person, more compassionate, more kind, more giving, not to please anyone else but in being the me I venture to be.
Lenten Recs
These are some of my Lenten resources:
The Little Black Book for Lent 2015
There Will Be Bread – my friend, sponsor and godmother
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan
Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin, SJ
Reflection – Ash Wednesday
As I find myself observing my first Ash Wednesday since my baptism into the Catholic faith (I observed two before today), I am hesitant to choose that one something to give up. There are truly so many things available to me, not necessarily bad habits that need eliminating or rectifying or sins that need reconciling, but between candy and dessert, soda and McDonald’s Breakfast Burritos, television and internet, the present list goes on like a persistent gnaw at my subconscious, and I’m not sure where my Lenten (or should I say life -) priorities should lie.
In addition to giving something up, what do I add to my day to encourage me in my spiritual contemplation, the new awakening to my continuing faith journey? In the past, I’ve committed to a daily reflection. Unfortunately this has lasted about two days. Maybe I’ve taken on too much, been overly ambitious, trying to publish a missive rather than a thought.
Should I pray more?
Should I give myself some extra alone time in the morning to reflect and ruminate? Perhaps use as a model the Daily Examen of St. Ignatius?
Everything I’ve mentioned and thought about for this Lent looks good and interests me, but so far none feel right; none feel faithful.
None fit.
They all feel forced, a put-uponing rather than a release, a lethargy of excuses rather than an arousing of spirit or a growth to carry me through these next forty days.
I am at odds with myself and it all feels muddled; a disarray of good intentions amid the clutter of listlessness, torn between excessive piousness and not enough, walking the fine line of knowing who this Lent is for – my outer self or my inner soul.
As I spend the rest of today in G-d’s grace, I’m hoping He will show me which direction to take at this Ash Wednesday crossroads.
Lenten Quotations
StandardLent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy
.– Pope Francis
You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.
— A.J. Gordon
Remember that lent and ash Wednesday is not just about putting away the bad things. It is about creating good things and helping the poor and the needy, being kind to people and much more.
— Jacob Winters
It is not just about giving up our favorite food but its about going further and giving up things like hatred and unforgiveness. You need to clean your heart and prepare yourself for purity.
— Amanda Jobs
For 36 more quotes about Lent, and for the source of these for, go here.
Griffins and Ginger Snaps 