Taking the Pulse of Lent

Lent isn’t a static thing, something frozen into a specific shape.

Lent is a movement.  The movement of the Church through a world, that because of sin, is so much less than what it could be. Lent is not just days on a calendar or no meat on Fridays.

Lent, is 40 days of taking stock, of introspection, reflection, of penance and charity, but most of all Lent is ongoing conversion, a deepening of our faith, and richer understanding of the Paschal Mystery.

Lent is the sum of all these things.

Lent is a journey made up of many journeys and the Church traces and builds on these steps in the Lenten readings. The OT Readings are the story of Salvation History. In the story of Noah we God’s hand at work.

We see His reaction to the sinful decay of his good creation, we hear about its destruction by water and its new birth, blessed with His own lasting covenant.  Abraham is a story of obedient love and confidant trust in God and the willingness to sacrifice what is held most dear for that love. It is a story of God compassion, in staying Abraham’s hand and blessing Abraham’s action into future generations. Today we heard the 10 Commandments that outline what our end of the covenant bargain is.

The Gospel readings of Lent give us Jesus’ journey. The Spirit driving Jesus into the desert, to confront the ancient evil one and to stand up to the desires of this world and to show that the messiah did not come to be an earthly king to be served but he came to serve and to pour out his life for the lives of many.

The Transfiguration is a foretaste of the glorified, risen Christ and we hear the affirmation by the Father of the worthiness of His Son. The Transfiguration also reminds us of our own transformation - the work Holy Spirit in our life and lives conforming us more closely with Christ.Today we heard about the Cleansing of the Temple, Jesus’ outrage at the old form of worship, business as usual, with all its show and outward signs, its exclusions and limitations put on the people.Jesus’ action and words show that the Temple would no longer be the home of God.He is clear that he himself would be the new temple, His body - the Glorified Christ risen and seated at the right hand of the Father, but it would also be His mystical body - the community of believers, we, the Church. This was the temple to be rebuilt in three days.And this new temple required a new kind of sacrifice, not doves or sheep, but; a humble and contrite heart and a loving self-sacrifice for the good of others. These are our stories of Lent.

It is at Lent we remember these things, not as some passing memory or by rote, but as the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who helps us remember in ways that change our lives.And in response; the Church, like Noah and Abraham and Jesus’ himself, listen to the Father and act on the movement of the Spirit. Not by outward performance or going through the motion, but through a renewed encounter with Jesus, ongoing conversion, deeper communion with God and a more active mission with the Holy Spirit. But we need to get on with it, we are half way through Lent.

St Paul captures the urgent movement of Lent.   

            

“You know the time; it is the hour now for you awake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.  Let us throw off the works of darkness”

Rm 13:11-14

Brothers and sisters Lent is an opportunity to awaken, to shake off our sleepiness and throw off the old worn self. As Jesus in cleansing the temple shows us – THINGS AS USUAL no longer will get it done.

 We let a precious opportunity go by if we think Lent is just tick on the calendar. 

The movement of Lent is a gift to you and I.

So in prayer - let us honestly sit down with God.

 In fasting and pence - let us humbly offer up to God all the gifts he has given us and all that we are. 

In Charity - let us rebuild our broken relationships and reach out to form new ones.

Perhaps, most of all, let us renewal our friendship with the Holy Spirit,

who is our guide and companion on not only this Lenten journey, but throughout our Christian life.

 As we move forward one grace filled day at a time towards the bleakness of Good Friday, the longing of Holy Saturday and the Joy of Easter let us pray –

Lord watch over your Church on our Lenten Journey.

Guide us with your unfailing love.

Protect us from what could harm us

And Lead us to what will save us.