Lent is a time of great spiritual work…but we can and do at expect too much of Lenten spiritual growth at times. Many people, me included bite off more than we can chew. At least that is my tendency. We try to do too much, fail and then can become afraid of picking up the pieces and beginning again.
I had the pleasure (painful as it was) to watch the Golden State Warriors lose the other night to the Boston Celtics. Their 4th quarter was simply awful. You may or may not know that one of their four all stars is injured and since his injury they have played, to put it kindly, not so well. In many ways it looks like the remaining three all stars are doing too much and dropping the things that they do well because of this. It is a very natural tendency and something that the world encourages us to do…take on more, multitask and grab as much as possible. We do this at work and play. We are encouraged to keep our children scheduled and booked solid in the desire to impress some future high school or university admissions department. We can do this as families with busy schedules that separate and divide us throughout the days. Jesus reminds us, this is not the way to holiness.
Mathew Kelly, in “Rediscover Jesus” in Chapter 18 shares with us how we get out of balance and how the lifestyle of the world can lead us away from the unity of relationship with God and others. The simple fault is we begin to prioritize things (objects) above people (subjects) which isn’t new…happens all the time in my life. It isn’t that God doesn’t want us to be successful or have nice things in our life. God desires that we live in abundance and generosity. What is different, of course, is the abundance and generosity God desires is one of sharing and sacrifice with others. It is not simply the accumulation of “stuff”, “honors” or “experiences” to be filed away or to fill an empty nook in our life, rather it is the entering into the blessings of love and truth that offer us experiences of sharing life and love. It is the joy of entering into loving relationships that bear great fruit in our life and in the life of those we touch.
Our reflection this Friday is about “Excusing our bad habits” (p 11) which leads to the “AHA” moment of Sunday (p 13). During Lent we are encouraged to look at those parts of our life that do not produce joy and blessing, the “bad habits” that often have built slowly over the years but now have become anchors holding us apart from the love of life and the blessings of relationship. We are encouraged to not bite off too much but rather make a plan, a diet from the bad habits leading us towards the “aha” of this is how God invites me into joy. Because we cannot simply remove the “bad habit” without replacing it with the virtuous activity, the work of mercy, the blessing of love filling the void left by sin with the love of God’s truth and grace.
After this first full week of Lent, we may wish to reevaluate our resolutions and ask the question, “Is what I am offering God in prayer, fasting and alms this Lent bringing me closer to God?” and if not, then “What must I change?”
This change often means letting go of the extra and going back to the basic. Not trying to do more, but doing what we are called to do with greater intentionality and love with those around us. It is to embrace God’s plan, God’s grace, God’s joy and share it in the sacrificial love of life.
In the end, when we follow the path God has called us to follow, we live and find true peace and joy in our hearts. It is a path of generosity and love.
God Bless
Fr. Mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yZsjKuL3kQ&feature=youtu.be