Looking Back on This 3rd Sunday of Advent

Sometimes it's good to look back. Not too much, of course. Our lives are lived now. There's even a spiritual concept - The Present Moment - that captures the importance of being fully present - mind, body, soul - here and now. The past is over. The future is unknown and, even despite our best efforts to plan ahead, uncertain. What exists for us is only the Present Moment. It's where we work out our salvation.

Don't neglect the Present Moment. Learn more about it, if you've never encountered the concept before.

With that said, sometimes we do and maybe should look back. For example, don't we do this when we examine our conscience before going to Confession, even better, each day? Another example: learning from history. Those of us who make it a point to read and study history find events of the past that help clarify what we see going on around us.

Of course, there are examples of looking back that may not be so salubrious. Taking the example of examining our conscience, we can carry this to extremes, especially if we're subject to bouts of scrupulosity. We remember what we did wrong - over and over and over again. We wring our hands, grind our teeth, beat our breasts, worse, sink into despondency. Those of us who know we're sinners (and who of us aren't?), even if we're not super-scrupulous, can easily slip into ruminating on past sins, spiritual slips and falls, even failures of not only a spiritual but a practical nature as well. If we learn something valuable, that might be helpful and healthy. But ruminating for extended periods of time rarely yields good fruit.

Looking back on the beginning of Lent last year, things were "normal." Got ashes, started working on Lenten discipline, incorporating as much of that discipline into the work day, in a reverent, conscious manner. Then everything unraveled.

The lock-downs and fear rose up and took center stage. Churches were locked down along with everything else. Just keeping your mind on your work each day - assuming you didn't lose your job - became a major challenge to may of us. 

Were you able to stick with your Lenten discipline? I found it challenging - especially after the first few weeks. If you remember, no one thought the lock-downs would continue more than a few weeks. But it soon became apparent that had changed. Everything, including our churches, remained shut tight. Our local parish did open up for an hour or so each day, but it was at a time what made it virtually impossible to break away from the work day. I did get to church to pray a few times. There were maybe 3 or 4 other folks there, that was it. And we all wore masks and studiously avoided each other. 

Eventually, a pattern of staying indoors took over. No Mass, no Sacraments extended through all of Lent - even Holy Week. TV or the internet provided some access to these, but it's not the same. When Easter arrived, I remember thinking that surely there would be some attempt to open our church at least for Easter Sunday. Nope.

So Lent last year passed as no other. 

Fast-forward to this year. At least we can get to Mass, if not all the Sacraments. And with a "lock-down Lent" under my belt, I've just plunged into Lent this year with an open mind. If all the churches were to shut down again (as they have in some parts of the country), then so be it. Since I've pretty much given up on our shepherds providing any substantial leadership or example, that's not an issue. (I did become agitated for a bit last year when even our Cardinal literally disappeared, even during Lent and the Easter Season). I guess you can get used to anything.

Getting used to our current religious regime may not be the best approach, but I've got nothing else to offer here. Then again, the powers that be - on an earthly institutional level - haven't always been up to snuff. We've had periods - sometimes long ones - of dysfunction, schism, heresy, etc. And our C-Virus Mess isn't the worst of it. Just think of how Holy Mother Church has suffered since the "Spirit of Vatican II" grabbed the imaginations of so many - under the influence and direction of some who had no regard for the best interest of the Church or any of us.

Looking back over the last year to the beginning of Lent 2020 hasn't been pleasant. But looking back beyond doesn't smooth things out either.

So let's just stick with our Lenten discipline in the face of all this. It's the least - maybe the most - we can do.

We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.