A reflection on Lent: Lent is the great spring-cleaning of the Christian life. It is the traditional season of prayer and fasting in preparation for the great feast of Easter. The word Lent is derived from a Saxon word meaning “spring.” In the early church, Lent was viewed as a spiritual spring, a time of light and joy in the renewal of the soul’s life. I think we have the notion of fasting and giving up wrong during Lent. I think it should be a time of giving, sharing, and helping. What if the focus shifted to what shall we do? What if instead of a list of things to give up, we centered on a list of positive things to accomplish? What if our notion of a faithful life isn’t built on restrictions, but on a divinely inspired freedom to live in right relationship with God, one another, and creation? What shall we do?
The Gospel of Luke 13:31-35
Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
Let us Pray: We come before You with grateful hearts, mindful of Your unwavering love and protection. Just as Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, we recognize the times we have strayed from Your path and failed to heed Your guidance. We ask for Your mercy and forgiveness, knowing that You long to gather us under Your wings, shielding us with Your grace and compassion. In Your name we Pray. Amen
We were warned, many heard but did not listen. Jesus heard but He didn’t listen either. We should be thankful that He didn’t. Jesus was a man with a mission. Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem, knowing that rejection and suffering and death await him there. He is determined. There was no stopping him or diverting him from finishing his course. Jesus has a clear sense of where he is going and what he is doing. That is what we’re seeing in this Gospel. A man on a mission. Are we on a mission? Do we have the same level of commitment that Jesus had as he headed to Jerusalem? When he was in the wilderness, He was able to show His determination to not fall into the hands of the devil. He resisted to feed himself, to protect himself and to take things for himself. Not like what the politicians are doing today. In the condition of our country, we need to listen and hear. We need to be like Jesus and as we listen, we need to become people with a purpose, a purpose to change the direction so that those who are the ones left behind know that there are still people who will help them. We need to be like the chicken and take under our wings the marginalized, those who find themselves now facing many hardships from events beyond their control. We need to be a people with a mission.
Let us Pray: Lord, grant us the wisdom to turn away from our sinful ways and seek refuge in You. Help us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when faced with challenges and opposition. May we remember that Jesus, despite knowing the suffering that awaited Him, continued His mission with unwavering resolve. Inspire us to follow His example, remaining faithful and courageous in our own journeys. Amen
Reflections by Bob 