God’s grace is his presence in a human being, with its beneficial and maturing effects: When God visits you, He brings peace, joy, enlivening energy, self-control. Either one attends to the divine Presence and nourishes oneself in union with God, or one does not. The choice belongs to each of us, from moment to moment. In Lent, the Church keeps telling us to turn away from sin and self and to immerse ourselves in the freely given, loving presence of God. Some will respond. Each of us needs to respond more fully, more faithfully, more frequently.
To assist us in the habit of returning to the LORD, I make the following suggestions for Lenten practices (in addition to visiting elderly and shut-ins, as noted):
(1) Our Lenten practices should help us to attend to God. The one practice I hope that all will do is to sit daily in quiet for 10-30 minutes, depending on your ability to keep still. No TV, no music, just you “alone with the Alone,” in Plotinus’ apt words. You may find it useful to begin by reading Scripture for a few minutes (see below). If you cannot keep still, then try walking alone in quiet, by yourself with the LORD. If you need assistance in getting started in the practice, please ask me, and I will give some teaching on quiet meditation during our Lenten homilies. Our young members also need to develop the habit of spending time alone with God, or they will dissolve in our society as it continues to dissolve. It seems evident that many of our young people do not like being alone; hence, they do not attend to God.
(2) Second, I encourage each of us to read Scripture daily. I will make a series of recommendations for these readings. For Week I of Lent, please read the Book of Jeremiah, chapters 1-7 (once at chapter 1, click on "next chapter" for chapters 2-7). Read slowly, thoughtfully, applying the words to your heart, mind, actions, life. Scriptural reading is one of the most ancient and beneficial forms of spiritual formation in the Church. In the early centuries, Catholic Christians devoured the Scriptures and read the Church Fathers devoutly. Now, most of us spend far more time watching entertainment or sporting events than we spend reading Scripture or other spiritual writings. We are not attending to God, in whom alone we endure individually and as a people.
(3) Third, try to attend one week-day Mass each week. We offer these Masses in Belt, but additional Masses are offered in Great Falls, and perhaps in parishes to our east (Geyser, Stanford). Come as you are, “seek the face of God, and live.”
These three practices, plus visiting the elderly, I recommend for each and for all of us. As suggested by a parishioner, Matthew Kelly offers a free Lenten program to be found at DynamicCatholic.com. This program may help some of you. I tried the Advent program, and it was not to my taste, because it involves watching videos; but we are fed in different ways. If you use this program, please also spend time alone in silence.
Again, here is the program I urge on all of us:
(1) Sitting in silence daily;
(2) Prayerfully reading Scripture daily;
(3) Attend an additional Mass weekly.
Finally, I encourage each and all of us to develop the habit of visiting those suffering from illness, isolation, infirmities of old age; be especially watchful for the needs of the elderly who have experienced the death of their spouse, or of a child. Visiting can take the form of a phone call or an email, but I think that visiting in person, face-to-face, is the best medicine. Do not overstay your welcome, but make the effort to care for our seniors. I welcome suggestions from our seniors to encourage parishioners with this practice.
May you make the best of the Lenten opportunities to grow in God’s grace.
