The Finishing Touch To Our Lenten Preparation As We Head Off To Work

Lent begins tomorrow. Today we add a finishing touch to our Lenten preparations as we head off to work.

Ideally we have parsed through our list of items we considered for our Lenten discipline. If we haven't finalized our plan, we can do so right now. And no need to hesitate or fret over this or that detail. Our sincere intention is what matters. We might even think: Something is better than nothing. Besides, if our plan somehow needs tweaking as we work our way through Lent, do You really think Our Lord would be displeased with our desire to make it better even if we do so mid-stream?

With that, let's remember that our spiritual discipline must not be "closed in" upon itself. We may endure the demands of a serious discipline, but the purpose is not to make us suffer. We offer all up to Our Lord, with the special consideration we give to His Passion and Death, the instruments he employed to gain for us eternal salvation. Rather than focus on ourselves and what we might be "giving up" or the extra prayer and sacrifice to which we have committed, let's remember that all will be in vain if it does not lead us at least one step closer to union with God - to a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Alban Goodier's words can help us in this final push to purify our Lenten discipline by focusing our thoughts on Jesus:

An Appeal for Jesus

Jesus Christ
Truly Man, Truly God
I believe, I know
You are here in our midst
Be real to me
Be ever more real to me
Overwhelm me
So that nothing else matters
So that no one else matters
So that my own life does not matter
So that I do not matter to myself.

Jesus Christ
Truly Man. Truly God.
The perfect Man
The perfect Lover of mankind
My perfect lover
I love You
I want to love You
I protest that I love You
‘Thou knowest that I love Thee’
In spite of all the evidence against me.
Let my love eat me up
For it is myself that is in the way
If I would think less of myself
If I would ignore myself
Pity myself less
Admire myself less
Indulge myself less
Then would I love You more
With love all-absorbing
With love self-obliterating
With love consuming.

Jesus Christ
You know what I wish to say
Before it is uttered
You read my soul better than I read it
Make it clean that it may see
Where it is untrue make it true
Selfless that it may love
The rest let it be as You will.

(Archbishop Alban Goodier, S.J.)