Happy Lent! Although Lent has traditionally been understood as a time of repentance and penance, the readings for the Sundays of this year focus our attention in a different way. They would have us reflect on the goodness of God and the blessings that flow from this goodness rather than on human sinfulness and any attempts to make amends for it through Lenten practices. This is not to deny human failure, but to refocus our gaze from ourselves to God.
Today we are invited to go into the desert. Going into the desert might not sound too appealing: hot during the day, cold at night, inhabited by rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions. In the Bible, however the desert is one of those places where God is at work. Let us joyfully enter the desert for the 40 days of Lent exclaiming, “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
This Thursday is the Feast of St. Patrick. ‘Tis the day for wearing of the green! Patrick was a man of great humility and courage. He was the first human being in recorded history to speak out against the institution of slavery. His writings reflect a deep respect and regard for women. He was a mystic who felt the presence of God in every turn of the road. May Patrick be our guide on our Lenten journey. May we hear God’s call to each one of us to be witnesses of his Christ in our midst, may we dedicate ourselves to the work of establishing God’s people of peace and compassion.
Saturday, March 19, is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. As we celebrate the feast of Joseph, God’s “dad” on earth, may we be inspired by his compassion, his devotion to family, and his quiet dignity and integrity so that we may become “Josephs” in on our own families.
