Refection

What Is Lent?

Ash Wednesday was a few days ago, starting the Lenten countdown toward Holy Week and Easter. But maybe some of us are not completely clear as to why these weeks of preparation are there in the first place.

Sacrifice for the prevention of the spread of illness is a radical act of love and life.

Moses’ instructions for people with leprosy resonate pretty strongly in the midst of a global pandemic. In the time of Jesus, if you had leprosy, you were required to separate yourself from others to prevent the disease from spreading. There was no cure. This meant permanent exile from your home and community.

When Paul offers us the hope of being free of anxieties, he is not suggesting the world will be without worries. He is suggesting that the more our hearts are fixed on Jesus, the more we will grow into allowing the Lord to carry our burdens.

In the first reading, Samuel, who was still young, was woken by hearing his name called in the night. He thought that the person calling him was Eli, the old priest whom Samuel served. But Samuel was wrong in thinking this. It was the Lord calling.

In the first reading, Samuel, who was still young, was woken by hearing his name called in the night. He thought that the person calling him was Eli, the old priest whom Samuel served. But Samuel was wrong in thinking this. It was the Lord calling.

Coming Jesus, show yourself to us when we are most resistant to turning towards you. Help us to cling to our longing for you, that we might turn back quickly when we wander away from you. Give us love and hope for those we love who struggle to see you. May we turn back to life as often as we need to. Amen.

Coming Jesus, show yourself to us when we are most resistant to turning towards you. Help us to cling to our longing for you, that we might turn back quickly when we wander away from you. Give us love and hope for those we love who struggle to see you. May we turn back to life as often as we need to. Amen.

Coming Jesus, show yourself to us when we are most resistant to turning towards you. Help us to cling to our longing for you, that we might turn back quickly when we wander away from you. Give us love and hope for those we love who struggle to see you. May we turn back to life as often as we need to. Amen.

Coming Jesus, show yourself to us when we are most resistant to turning towards you. Help us to cling to our longing for you, that we might turn back quickly when we wander away from you. Give us love and hope for those we love who struggle to see you. May we turn back to life as often as we need to. Amen.

As we near the end of the liturgical year, we start to hear the messages we need at the end of things. Jesus is preparing us to enter Paradise, but our understanding falls  short of God’s way. The feast metaphor, in favour of the outcasts, and the rejection of those who had believed themselves the ones worthy can be profoundly troubling to those of us who believe and are working hard to be faithful.