What a beautiful Lenten journey I have experienced! Since Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18th), I’ve been so blessed in so many ways by entering into this most sacred season of the Catholic church’s calendar year. Lent has been extraordinarily graceful this year, and I am profoundly grateful to God for this experience. I’ve enjoyed the scripture readings at Mass – most especially the gospels for the Sundays of Lent. Each of the Sunday gospels have been a beautiful image not only for personal reflection but also for preaching material. The temptations of Christ, the transfiguration, the woman at the well, the man born blind, the raising of Lazarus, and, of course, the Passion Gospel read every year on Palm Sunday. These Cycle A Gospel readings (taken from St. Matthew and St. John), as well as other readings, provided so much “food for thought.” I almost felt like I was reading them for the first time. Besides the scriptures, I was able to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) for many people over the span of the last five weeks, both in parishes as well as schools. People are so humble as they present themselves to be reconciled to God and their neighbor. I am humbled by their honesty before the Lord. They take ownership of their choices and seek pardon and peace! What a gift to be the Minister of Reconciliation!
Another gift was the opportunity for Monsignor Kevin Noone and me to preach a parish mission (3 nights of prayer and reflection) at the American Martyrs Church in Bayside. The theme was one of my favorite topics: “Let Jesus Satisfy Your Hungry Heart!” We exposed the Blessed Sacrament each evening. We offered prayers, litanies, hymns, and reflections on the Holy Eucharist, and the people of both Holy Family Parish in Fresh Meadows and American Martyrs Parish in Bayside seemed to enjoy it. This is the third time I’ve been able to present a parish mission and I’m ever so grateful to God for allowing me to do so.
I spent some time this past Lent trying to declutter my living space in order to simplify my surroundings. Making more space in my life for God and the awareness of God are the byproducts. An excessive accumulation of books, clothes, and tchotchkes (I had to look up the spelling) are no longer a distraction for me as I have hopefully made more room for God to enter, if you catch the drift of what I’m trying to say. Try it! It can be done anytime, not just in Lent!
Reaching out to some fellow Christians on the journey of life for personal reconciliation was also part of my Lenten journey. Those experiences take time, but at least there was a beginning!
Now we get set for the Triduum: our Catholic high holy days! Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil are the liturgical pinnacle for Catholics. One grand celebration in three parts – a drama that never wearied of being enriching! Then comes what we have been preparing for: Easter – the Resurrection – the ultimate triumph over sin and death! May the passion of Jesus and his Risen Life fill our hearts with new hope and lasting peace!
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