Lenten Newsletter - 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ's Divine Mercy,

Happy Lent! We sometimes hear people say that to each other meaning it in a humorous way. What could be "happy" about Lent? Yet, we can greet one another in this way and really mean it. Lent does not need to be a time of drudgery and suffering; it can truly be a blessed and, yes, happy time.

In order to make Lent a fruitful time for us spiritually we must have a purpose. When we do not have a purpose we drift. Reflection on our personal histories would lead us to realize that we seldom "drift" in the right direction. "Drifting" indicates that we are usually slipping away from our best selves. What should our purpose be? Simply put it should be directed to becoming our best, most graced selves. One common misunderstanding of "holiness" is that somehow we must become something other than what we are. In truth, holiness for each one of us is better understood as becoming our best self, i.e. the person that God created us to be. So, then, our Lenten discipline is really just an invitation to focus on ways that we can cooperate with God's grace to become the best people we can be.

The Church has always invited us to prepare in a special way for the celebration of the Paschal mystery through the Lenten season. This time is especially important for catechumens, but it is important for each of us as well. Prayer, fasting, penance, almsgiving are traditional ways of us responding to God's invitation. I was speaking to a priest recently and he said to me Lent is not so much a matter of "giving up, but of giving in to God." What a beautiful sentiment! God invites us over and over again to respond to His Mercy. In many ways our whole spiritual journey is an attempt to respond to the invitations of God. If we can "give in" to God's Will in this season of Lent that would be a tremendous grace. The goal of prayer is really to help us grow in intimacy with God and to turn our will over to Him. In Lent many seek to pray more and to pray longer and I would encourage both of these goals. I would also ask us to consider another goal that is very difficult for some of us: to pray for greater trust and abandonment to the Will of God. Peace is elusive if not imposssible for one who does not trust God. Peace will come when we learn to trust in a deeper way.

Fasting is a difficult concept for most of us as well. In truth, our Lenten disciplines are not all that austere compared with other religious groups e.g. Muslims during Ramadan. But the concept is the same: we empty ourselves so that God can fill us with His grace. Food is only one of the ways that we "fill" ourselves. Our lives are so full of so many things! Televisions, radios, computers, telephones, pagers, etc surround us. We also "medicate" ourselves through entertainment, excessive work, obsessive recreation, alcohol, drugs, and the latest "reality" show. The word "amusement" is an interesting word. The Greeks placed a great value on "musing" (deep reflection). To add an "a" before a word was to indicate its opposite. So the word "amuse" is the opposite of "muse." Amusement literally takes us away from musing. Not that any of the above gadgets are inherently evil, but when they are not in balance in our life, we are not in balance either. Fasting from some of these things may make us feel better. I notice, for example, when I eat better I feel better. Left to my own devices I would rather not eat better, but when I do I feel better. Similarly, we often resist letting go of some of our attachments, distractions and comforts, but if we can let them go we feel better and freer.

Penance is also a way of responding to God's grace. The season of Lent is a season of penance. Confession is an essential part of our spiritual lives and an important way that we open ourselves up to God's grace. Living in a penitential way is a further response to God's invitation. I would ask us to especially remember the souls in purgatory during this season. Offer Mass for them, remember them in your daily prayers, and offer chaplets of mercy for these holy souls. The practice of praying for the dead, like so many other things, has declined in recent years. As Oblates of Divine Mercy we must continue this important work and encourage others to do so as well.

Almsgiving is a central part of Lent and a central part of our spirituality too. We should understand "almsgiving" in the broadest possible sense. It includes "doing good" for others, but it is not limited to that understanding. We should think of it as breaking patterns of selfishness and self-absorption. Most of us are self-absorbed to some extent. Often the good that we could do goes undone not because we are evil or lazy, but because we do not even notice the need. We do not always recognize our sins of omission because we are blind to the larger world around us. Prayerfully consider this idea. In what ways is God inviting you to be more aware of the world around you? In what ways might you be able to respond to these invitations?

Several years ago a priest (now deceased) gave a memorable talk about Lent. I do not know if his idea was an original idea or not, but what he said remains with me to this day. He said that the letters of the word "LENT" stand for "let's end negative thinking." What a beautiful thought! Is not our whole Gospel message one of hope, life, joy, and resurrection? Yet all around us (and too often within us) is negativity, cynicism and bitterness. I went in the store for a cup of coffee yesterday and remarked to the clerk that it was a beautiful day. She responded: "wait until Monday when the snow comes!" How typical her response is when we think about it. I am not in any way trying to judge my friend; I am merely making an observation. The negative surrounds us in our instant, media culture. Most of us are addicted to bad news. How much ink in our newspapers is dedicated to good news? How much of our newscasts are positive? I notice that after smothering us with the worst possible news throughout the broadcast, in the last minute they give us some story about a cat being freed from the tree and we are all supposed to go away happy! This "negative bug" to some degree infects us all. Whether it is comments about the weather, a person, or even life in general it usually does not take long for someone to say something negative, critical, sarcastic, or cynical. I believe at times that people think it is more intelligent to be negative; it seems to give them the "last word." Most of the comments are unnecessary and unhelpful, not to mention often hurtful. Ending, or at least lessening, negative thinking is a very good goal for us this Lent. In so many ways there is something very contradictory and disedifying about a negative Christian. It is a countersign. We want to be witnesses to life, joy, and hope rather than negativity. I sometimes ask myself: "If I was that only Catholic Christian that someone knew would they find my faith and the way that I live my life attractive to them?" Honestly I do not always like the answer, but I believe that the question is important. You and I are Christ's ambassadors. Do we want to send the message: "Come join us; 'misery loves company.' We are negative, sarcastic, critical, cynical and bitter!" Of course we do not, but unwittingly we sometimes do send that message. Lent is a very important time for us to consider what kind of ambassadors we are for Christ and to resolve to be more positive and encouraging to others.

Well, I believe that this newsletter is a little bit on the long side, but I send it to you to be read at your own time and pace. I pray that this Lent is a blessed and fruitful time for each of you and for all of you. I pray that it is a blessed season and yes, a happy one as well!

Asking God's Blessing on you and your loved ones,

Reverend Richard F. Clancy