Thoughts about the Season Lent and the refreshment it brings.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,

We have begun our Lenten Season. I hope that in this time of personal growth  and spiritual renewal that you will begin to find new reasons for rejoicing and living a grateful life.

I would imagine that for many people Lent is a time of grudgingly giving up those things that each of us senses
as a sort of "Comfort Food" to our daily existence. Fortunately, for myself I see Lent as a Time of new beginnings. It is a time of renewal and hope.

Perhaps, the first concentration should be on how I pray. Our Lord taught us how, yet so often, we forget. Don’t we focus first of all on our needs. Jesus said His Father already knows what we need before we ask for it. I think his point is , perhaps, God’s desires for our world should come first. What does God want for our world. I would like to suggest the gift of forgiveness. After all that is what Jesus is all about.. The first thing I need to do in Lent is that I take the focus off of me. Each of us needs to refocus life on the desires of God.

Matthew’s Gospel which begins our Lent makes this suggestion to us. "When you fast, do not look gloomy." (Mt 6:16) Imagine, then, making being more cheerful part of your Lenten activities. This can be rather difficult for each of us. We all have our reasons to be less than cheerful on any given day. Our Lord’s invitation , however, is to focus on what God wants for us. I think God wants all of us to be cheerful,. Don’t you?

So go ahead, first refocus your prayer on brighter things. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with light to see how you can express yourself through words of gratitude and deeds of kindness. As long as you’ve given up sweets you might just as well share them with others through your words and deeds.

Rejoice and be glad and have a happy Lent,

Fr. Richard