Lent Journey

When I was a child in Mexico I used to be terrified of Lent.  The small town that I lived in was predominantly Catholic and during Lent the whole town would come together to celebrate the passion of Christ.  I still recall the anxiety that the reenactment of the way of the cross would have on me.  Seeing a bloody, severely beaten Christ made me want to go hide under my bed.  The sight of the crucifixion and the events leading towards it are indeed gruesome, but full of meaning.  As a child I just saw the gore and felt deeply the sorrow of Lent, but missed the message of redemption and hope.  Today our Lenten journey begins and takes us to Easter.  We begin this liturgical season by receiving a cross of ashes on our forehead along with one of two prayers:

Remember, O Man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19)

The first prayer helps us understand our mortality and realize our limitations- promoting a time to grow in humility.  “Today we see ourselves for what we really are: weak, limited and subject to many unpredictable events.  We remember that life is not just parties, power, money or pleasure… We are threatened by sickness, trials and death.”  Our lives are full of limitations and false securities – this reflection should help us diminish any sense of superiority we might have towards others.  It’s a time to live in truth- to accept our true selves (as we are) without any masks and to work at being better versions of ourselves.  Sincere humility converts limitations and weaknesses into a source of greatness and self-improvement.  If we are terrible communicators let’s look at ways to improve, if we give up to quickly lets meditate on ways to persevere, if our pride keeps us from loving or forgiving people let’s change….

Turn Away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. (Mark 1:15)

Lent is a period to start over.  It’s a time of abstinence of giving up certain things that keep us from God or halt our conversion.  While many Catholics give up coke, coffee or some other pleasure- we can also give up anger, gossip or other sins that keep us from living the gospel authentically.  It’s a great time to begin with the Sacrament of Reconciliation acknowledging our sins because this introspection will give us areas that we need to transform.  This will also help us meditate on God’s forgiveness and his natural way of taking us back again and again- always inviting us to begin again.  As we look at our weaknesses we grow in compassion and develop a forgiving spirit that believes the best in others.

As a child I just saw the brutality Christ lived for us. Now as an adult I rejoice and hope in His death and resurrection.  Knowing that God gave us life everlasting by sacrificing His Son as proclamation of His mercy and love is just too much- I don’t deserve it, but am thankful to be loved so much!