Fr. John Baptist Pesce, C.P.
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council is an immense help in profiting from Lent which the Church terms “this great season of grace” (Preface for Lent II) when in the chapter on the liturgical year, we are given the words:
The season of Lent has a twofold character: primarily by recalling or preparing for baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer to celebrate the paschal mystery.
The emphasis is on the celebration of the central mystery of our faith, the paschal mystery, the passion unto death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus. While it is true that every Christian liturgy celebrates the paschal mystery (especially in the Eucharist), Lent memorializes this in a unique fashion and receives its culmination in the Easter Triduum.
The paschal mystery is, in the first place, the mystery of Christ but, as Blessed Abbot Columba Marmion highlighted many years ago, the mystery of Christ passes into our lives. The mystery of Christ becomes the mystery of Christians. Baptism initiates us into the paschal mystery. The responsibility of disciples of Jesus is to live out that mystery in their daily lives. By the paschal mystery, Jesus by dying destroyed our death and by rising restored our life. Now we are to continue that process and thus build up the body of Christ which is the Church.
The discipline of Lent: the more diligent hearing of the word of God (as expressed in the above quote – “diligent hearing” obviously includes, although unstated, quiet reflection on that word), the penitential elements (which, for the most part the Church leaves us to determine for ourselves), the dedication to prayer and service to others, in particular the needy and marginalized which is very much encouraged during “this great season of grace” – all have as their goal to empty us of our self-absorption and open us up more and more to being possessed by God and transformed into Christ. In this process, the Church proclaims the paschal mystery and with our grace-cooperation accomplishes it.
We die ever more completely to sin and live more fully unto God.
It is because the Church never takes our eyes off of the goal of Lent that the Church terms Lent “this joyful season of Lent” (Preface for Lent I). But how many of us associate Lent with joy? The Church sees Lent, “God’s gift to your family,” as a “joyful season” because the Church knows from experience that this grace-filled season has the power of the Spirit to transform believers more and more into the image of the Lord crucified and risen from the dead and thereby to enable the Church to fulfill the mission given by the Lord, expressed by the Church thus “to render God the Father and his incarnate Son present and as it were visible [in the world]” (CMW, 21). Lent, entered into in an active, generous and intelligent fashion, enables the Church to be what the Lord Jesus intended, a visible sign, a sacrament, of God. There is, indeed, reason to rejoice in this.
Accept the gift. Live the challenge. Experience the joy as you with the community of believers contribute to the design of God.
The season of Lent has a twofold character: primarily by recalling or preparing for baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer to celebrate the paschal mystery.
The emphasis is on the celebration of the central mystery of our faith, the paschal mystery, the passion unto death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus. While it is true that every Christian liturgy celebrates the paschal mystery (especially in the Eucharist), Lent memorializes this in a unique fashion and receives its culmination in the Easter Triduum.
The paschal mystery is, in the first place, the mystery of Christ but, as Blessed Abbot Columba Marmion highlighted many years ago, the mystery of Christ passes into our lives. The mystery of Christ becomes the mystery of Christians. Baptism initiates us into the paschal mystery. The responsibility of disciples of Jesus is to live out that mystery in their daily lives. By the paschal mystery, Jesus by dying destroyed our death and by rising restored our life. Now we are to continue that process and thus build up the body of Christ which is the Church.
The discipline of Lent: the more diligent hearing of the word of God (as expressed in the above quote – “diligent hearing” obviously includes, although unstated, quiet reflection on that word), the penitential elements (which, for the most part the Church leaves us to determine for ourselves), the dedication to prayer and service to others, in particular the needy and marginalized which is very much encouraged during “this great season of grace” – all have as their goal to empty us of our self-absorption and open us up more and more to being possessed by God and transformed into Christ. In this process, the Church proclaims the paschal mystery and with our grace-cooperation accomplishes it.
We die ever more completely to sin and live more fully unto God.
It is because the Church never takes our eyes off of the goal of Lent that the Church terms Lent “this joyful season of Lent” (Preface for Lent I). But how many of us associate Lent with joy? The Church sees Lent, “God’s gift to your family,” as a “joyful season” because the Church knows from experience that this grace-filled season has the power of the Spirit to transform believers more and more into the image of the Lord crucified and risen from the dead and thereby to enable the Church to fulfill the mission given by the Lord, expressed by the Church thus “to render God the Father and his incarnate Son present and as it were visible [in the world]” (CMW, 21). Lent, entered into in an active, generous and intelligent fashion, enables the Church to be what the Lord Jesus intended, a visible sign, a sacrament, of God. There is, indeed, reason to rejoice in this.
Accept the gift. Live the challenge. Experience the joy as you with the community of believers contribute to the design of God.
2 comments:
I’ve read this article and post this morning as I prepare to leave for weekend retreat in just a few short hours. It made me think of the theme for the year "Only for Today" and how not only we can prepare for the Joy of Easter through these days of Lent but how we should prepare ourselves for the challenges and sacrifices of our lives each day "Only for Today" When I spoke at our parish about our retreat I had given two separate talks. One specifically geared towards the Fathers at our 9AM Mass on Sundays and one for the other Masses. I started one talk by quoting an excerpt from Pope John XXIII that he wrote on Dec. 23rd 1902. That quote was “Today went better than yesterday and tomorrow must go better than today, and so on with God's Grace..." I must have read that entire entry a hundred times over before even speaking about because like Father's Blog to "Live the Challenge" Pope John XXIII by this simple line is telling us just that. I share with you a story about that I told my Parish about when speaking about the retreat and is proves that by living up the challenges in our lives, having a true faith and believing in that faith that despite our failures and short comings, nothing is impossible with God in our life and even though "Today went better than yesterday and tomorrow must go better than today .." we just continue to live as God asks "Only For Today"..
"A life filled with excitement. A future filled with hope. A tragic accident. End of story? Hardly.. it's just the beginning.
At age 29, Renee Bondi was engaged to be married and had a beautiful singing voice, a thriving career as a music teacher, and a loving family. But then one night a bizarre accident shattered her spine and left her quadriplegic. Her life changed forever. Renee lost not only all the use of her hands and legs, but also her singing voice-she could barely speak above a whisper. Unwilling to accept her that her life was over; Renee searched her heart and sought the Lord for direction. Although there were many dark days, Renee continued to persevere. Against all odds and all physicians prognosis, Renee's voice was miraculously restored with a crystal clear, angelic sound. Renee harnessed her talents to inspire and give hope to others.
An incredibly gifted Christian singer before her accident, Renee has augmented her gifts t include a dynamic speaking ability that grabs her audiences. Whether performing a powerful concert or sharing her profound and victorious story that includes paralysis and a life confined to a wheelchair, those who hear Renee are uplifted and mesmerized by her angelic voice, music and messages. Most importantly, all who hear Renee are encouraged to pursue a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. "
This her Story which goes well beyond this brief glimpse of Renee's life. I share with you as I have shared it with my parish because you may ask yourself "How does she do it"? Te answer is like Father's Blog.. She Lives the Challenge and like Pope John XXIII wrote " Today went better than yesterday and tomorrow must go better than today and so on with God's Grace.." she lives her life day by day "Only For Today" with the Grace of God.
If you have already been on retreat this year or if you retreat is upcoming, may Renee's story inspire you, may the words of Pope John XXIII bring you hope that tomorrow will be better, but first and foremost may You live each Day with the Love of Christ in your heart, The forgiveness of Christ in your soul, and may you know that even though our lives are really "Only For Today" Christ is with us forever.
God Bless
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