A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right - Pre-Lent Edition
Lent is coming: Ash Wednesday in three days. Let's repeat last week's reminder to prepare, if you haven't done so already. Don't wait.
The image of "circling the wagons" might make sense for us Catholics, particularly during Lent. No, it doesn't mean to ignore or reject or separate from this world. We're here for a purpose. It's just that if our purpose is to know, love, and serve God - and it is - then sometimes we need to circle the wagons to create the space we need to do just that. Here some random thoughts:
First, even if we successfully separate ourselves for a spell, let's say in daily Mass, prayer, meditation, study, etc., it doesn't always result in the sort of peace of mind and soul we might expect. Ripples, sometimes waves, of concern, worry, anxiety still nudge, maybe even buffet us. Why the ripples, sometimes waves, that disturb that peace?
Maybe our faith or our degree of holiness needs a boost. Here's where Lent comes in. We need the Lenten practice of special prayer, almsgiving, and fasting to both temper us and strengthen us. But even if we're really serious, if we apply ourselves diligently to Lenten observations, don't expect an easy ride. Don't be surprised when temptations keep poking their bony, twisted fingers through our circle of Lenten discipline.
After all, temptations can be part of God’s way of honing us, making us more holy by making us stronger, surer in our turning away from sin. But let's be clear: sin must remain “outside looking in,” never breaching our circle, the ramparts our soul has put up through its mortifications as well as any and all forms of self-denial, suffering, sacrificial acts of love; through our constant raising our eyes from this vale of tears to Our Father in Heaven; from our living in the present moment, knowing and acknowledging His Presence throughout even our busiest days. (There's a lot packed into that sentence; but then again, there's a lot we can and should be doing every day to keep ourselves close to God.)
Let's face it, we battle each day against forces from within and without, our fallen human nature and the devil. And now that it’s Lent, we muster our “special forces” to strike ever swifter and deeper into those areas that need cleansing. Like Navy Seals we hone our minds and bodies to face the attacks; but as Catholic Seals we simultaneously beg for and rely on grace, always desirous to do His Will, whatever that might be; always accepting what He sends our way to help us in our struggle, accepting any suffering that must come our way at times in a passive way, allowing God to work on us as He sees fit.
Notice how we alternate between our activity and passivity here. One does not contradict the other. We need to arm ourselves every morning, ready for battle. We need to do all within our power to proudly bear ourselves as members of the Church militant, soldiers in Christ's army. But even our best efforts cannot avoid daily struggle and will not prevent disappointments and suffering. Even as we continue to fight the good fight, we need to passively accept any suffering that comes our way, offering it up to God in reparation for sin. (From my spiritual reading, I've learned that this passive acceptance and offering has more beneficial power than any acts of mortification we might impose on ourselves. Not that we should eliminate these, but it's important and salutary that we passively, even lovingly, accept the sufferings that come our way.)
And yet, after all is said and done, perhaps “total” peace will not be our lot in this life. So we simply remind ourselves that when our peace is disturbed (although never broken), we’ve received a reminder that this world is a temporary way station, a moment in time, on our journey to eternal life and timeless joy in His Holy Presence.
With these thoughts and with Lent now lingering on the horizon, we can welcome it with open arms, circle our wagons, and get down to the work of this Holy Season: prayer, fasting, almsgiving.
Happy Sunday!
The image of "circling the wagons" might make sense for us Catholics, particularly during Lent. No, it doesn't mean to ignore or reject or separate from this world. We're here for a purpose. It's just that if our purpose is to know, love, and serve God - and it is - then sometimes we need to circle the wagons to create the space we need to do just that. Here some random thoughts:
First, even if we successfully separate ourselves for a spell, let's say in daily Mass, prayer, meditation, study, etc., it doesn't always result in the sort of peace of mind and soul we might expect. Ripples, sometimes waves, of concern, worry, anxiety still nudge, maybe even buffet us. Why the ripples, sometimes waves, that disturb that peace?
Maybe our faith or our degree of holiness needs a boost. Here's where Lent comes in. We need the Lenten practice of special prayer, almsgiving, and fasting to both temper us and strengthen us. But even if we're really serious, if we apply ourselves diligently to Lenten observations, don't expect an easy ride. Don't be surprised when temptations keep poking their bony, twisted fingers through our circle of Lenten discipline.
After all, temptations can be part of God’s way of honing us, making us more holy by making us stronger, surer in our turning away from sin. But let's be clear: sin must remain “outside looking in,” never breaching our circle, the ramparts our soul has put up through its mortifications as well as any and all forms of self-denial, suffering, sacrificial acts of love; through our constant raising our eyes from this vale of tears to Our Father in Heaven; from our living in the present moment, knowing and acknowledging His Presence throughout even our busiest days. (There's a lot packed into that sentence; but then again, there's a lot we can and should be doing every day to keep ourselves close to God.)
Let's face it, we battle each day against forces from within and without, our fallen human nature and the devil. And now that it’s Lent, we muster our “special forces” to strike ever swifter and deeper into those areas that need cleansing. Like Navy Seals we hone our minds and bodies to face the attacks; but as Catholic Seals we simultaneously beg for and rely on grace, always desirous to do His Will, whatever that might be; always accepting what He sends our way to help us in our struggle, accepting any suffering that must come our way at times in a passive way, allowing God to work on us as He sees fit.
Notice how we alternate between our activity and passivity here. One does not contradict the other. We need to arm ourselves every morning, ready for battle. We need to do all within our power to proudly bear ourselves as members of the Church militant, soldiers in Christ's army. But even our best efforts cannot avoid daily struggle and will not prevent disappointments and suffering. Even as we continue to fight the good fight, we need to passively accept any suffering that comes our way, offering it up to God in reparation for sin. (From my spiritual reading, I've learned that this passive acceptance and offering has more beneficial power than any acts of mortification we might impose on ourselves. Not that we should eliminate these, but it's important and salutary that we passively, even lovingly, accept the sufferings that come our way.)
And yet, after all is said and done, perhaps “total” peace will not be our lot in this life. So we simply remind ourselves that when our peace is disturbed (although never broken), we’ve received a reminder that this world is a temporary way station, a moment in time, on our journey to eternal life and timeless joy in His Holy Presence.
With these thoughts and with Lent now lingering on the horizon, we can welcome it with open arms, circle our wagons, and get down to the work of this Holy Season: prayer, fasting, almsgiving.
Happy Sunday!
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