VIEWS FROM THE PEWS – SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022

Brothers & Sisters:

Lent is a season for intensive training in the spiritual disciplines.  Henri Nouwen refers to it as the most important time of the year to nurture our inner life.  It is true that we are preparing ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but we are also acknowledging the death and resurrection that is constantly taking place within us. By virtue of our conversion to Christ, we have become a new people, but we are aware that this is an ongoing process, for we always need to be renewed and recreated.  Our God who declared, “Behold I make all things new” is always calling us into a new and deeper relationship with him.

An approach that is frequently adopted is to practice the disciplines of the Christian life as avenues of drawing closer to God.  Among these, as the Ash Wednesday Gospel always brings to our attention, are almsgiving, prayer and fasting, but to these may be added several other disciplines such as repentance, reading and study of the bible, worship, fellowship and works of love.

Some people have found it helpful to develop a Lenten Rule, setting out what and how they intend to engage in these disciplines throughout the season.

Let us pray that we may experience a fulfilling Lenten Season.

A Lenten Prayer

Jesus, we long for you, as a parched land longs for rain.  Help us to till the soil of our hearts by persevering in prayer, so the graces you pour out on us may bear fruit.  Give us the patience, strength and endurance to never tire spending time with you.  Amen

Contributed!