The best Lenten offering by far is to give God ourselves with our sins, with a firm intention to not keep wallowing in sin. How could any other offerings to God compare, when we are still stewing in our sins? There are several ways to offer God our sins, with purpose of amendment of life: At every Eucharist, as we attend, we can and should invite the Holy Spirit to search our heart, to make each of us aware of the wrong we are personally doing, and move us to change. In prayer, each of us must do the same thing daily: “LORD, you search me and you know me. Help me to know myself as You know me, and to come clean in your Presence.” Furthermore, we offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation for those who intend to be changed by grace and by your free choices. In addition, twice a year we offer a public action of burning our sins: Each of us must think about what we have done wrong, or failed to do right; scribble them down in some form, and bring our sins to the fire we prepare in each parish next week-end.
Be attentive, for this is crucial: What seems to be lacking in many of us is a searching and fearless self-examination of how we are living, how we ignore God, ways in which we deceive ourselves and others. We often examine ourselves superficially. Whether in the confessional, in discussions, and surely by examining my own life and failures, this truth becomes obvious: Most of us do not know how to examine our lives in real depth in order to root our sin and wrong-doing. We quickly glance at ourselves, and come with a few sentences to mutter, as if this serves as a real heartfelt self-examination. We toss in a few pennies of sin, and keep the big bucks of evil doing. What can and should one do? Make a list of serious wrong-doing or wrongful attitudes, and ask yourself: How have I harmed others by these actions? What effects do these sins have in my life, in my character, in what I think, say, and do? How am I contributing to the sufferings of others by the way I live? Looking back over my life, what patterns emerge and recur? Am I willing to make amends to those whom I have harmed, cheated, deceived, used for my own pleasure? If God were to call me to account right now—and God ever seeks to bring us into the light of His righteous judgment and mercy—what would show up? What evil clings to me? What evils am I clinging to, am I afraid to renounce here and now? Such a fearless inventory is and ought to be an important part of Lent. |
“If I had known that this was my last Lent, my last Easter, and my last months on earth, I would have done things differently. I would have…” You would have done what? What would you do differently, if you knew that this Lent is your last Lent on earth, and your final Easter is coming in a few weeks? Would you do anything differently in your life? Would you prepare to meet God beyond death? If so, how? Or would you want to remain exactly as you are? Are you truly ready to end your life here, and to enter only into God’s Life?
“NOW is the day of salvation.” “Not tomorrow, not today, but now.” LORD, today you grace me—even now. Every moment of yours, every moment with You, is an eternal Now—a new Beginning, the final End. You are here now, and do I truly care? Do I really care enough to meet You, to strive to enter into your peace, into your Life? Am I prepared to meet you “face to face”? Am I prepared to end my life on earth in the coming weeks, and to enter fully into your Life beyond this world, leaving behind all that I have known?
During this, the last Lent, I want to meet You, listen to You, obey You, love You, care for your little ones. I desire to seek You more truly, and to find You in seeking You, and to rejoice in finding You far more than in whatever this present life has to offer. All that I do, I want to do with You, and ultimately for You. The rest is passing away. You, LORD God, and You alone, abide, endure forever.
The last Lent is here now. Surely it is the last Lent for some of us, although probably unknown to us in our daily lives. A few days of preparation are given to me, to all of us, to seek and to enjoy God’s friendship. Open my heart, YHWH God, as I listen to and ponder your Word during this Lent. Help me not just to go through the motions of worshiping You, but truly to open up and to bow my heart in your divine Presence. Help me to be attentive to your voice. As I study your word, study in me and with me, that I may understand You and your will, and love You more truly.
“NOW is the day of salvation.” “Not tomorrow, not today, but now.” LORD, today you grace me—even now. Every moment of yours, every moment with You, is an eternal Now—a new Beginning, the final End. You are here now, and do I truly care? Do I really care enough to meet You, to strive to enter into your peace, into your Life? Am I prepared to meet you “face to face”? Am I prepared to end my life on earth in the coming weeks, and to enter fully into your Life beyond this world, leaving behind all that I have known?
During this, the last Lent, I want to meet You, listen to You, obey You, love You, care for your little ones. I desire to seek You more truly, and to find You in seeking You, and to rejoice in finding You far more than in whatever this present life has to offer. All that I do, I want to do with You, and ultimately for You. The rest is passing away. You, LORD God, and You alone, abide, endure forever.
The last Lent is here now. Surely it is the last Lent for some of us, although probably unknown to us in our daily lives. A few days of preparation are given to me, to all of us, to seek and to enjoy God’s friendship. Open my heart, YHWH God, as I listen to and ponder your Word during this Lent. Help me not just to go through the motions of worshiping You, but truly to open up and to bow my heart in your divine Presence. Help me to be attentive to your voice. As I study your word, study in me and with me, that I may understand You and your will, and love You more truly.