Lent Begins

Consistency in all we say, do and think is not easy to achieve.  The great challenge we face during this season of Lent, as in every season of Lent, is to see where we are not being consistent in our thoughts, words and actions as the followers of Jesus.  To even consider that thought means we are sincere in our efforts not only to belong to the Church, but to be the living presence of the Church with all the people whose lives we touch everyday and in all the places we go.  Is Jesus the center and core of my life?  That is the goal, but one that takes consistent effort and discipline.  As in any relationship, faithfulness and love are the bonds.  There is no doubt about the faithfulness and love Jesus has for us.  The question is, "How faithful am I to Jesus and how much do I really love him?" Regular daily prayer, faithfulness to Mass on Sunday both physically and in our minds and hearts, and the willingness to admit our failures and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance are the ways we live out our faithfulness and love.

Last week I spoke about the people seeking the presidential nomination from their parties to run for the presidency of our country.  Consistency as a follower of Jesus means that we exercise our right to vote as Americans, educate ourselves on their goals and positions, and vote for the candidate who will be best for our nation, one who will promote the "Gospel of Life." One of my lenten resolutions was to do more spiritual reading everyday.  I am getting near the end of "Go in Peace" by Pope John Paul II.  How blessed we are to have lived during the pontificate of this holy and loving man.  Is there any greater example of a leader in our time?  He clearly showed his love for God and for us wherever he went.  He was gentle, but firm in promoting the "Gospel of Life." Everyday we have opportunities to make life good and even better for those we encounter.  One of the last commandments most of us would think we would ever break is the fifth one: You shall not kill.  In the gospel from Friday in the first week in Lent we heard Jesus saying, "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, "You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment." But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, "You fool," will be liable to fiery Gehenna." We take life out of people and drain their spirits as well as our own through our angry thoughts and harsh words.  To consistently live the "Gospel of Life" our thoughts and words should always be thoughts and words that seek to bring peace, strengthen love and lift up those God has entrusted to our presence.

The "Gospel of Life" is sorely needed in our world today.  It needs to get far beyond our church doors and good intentions into our homes, places of employment, schools, highways, neighborhoods, sports activities - in other words, in all those places where we interact and encounter one another.  One of the penances I frequently ask people to do when they come to confession is to go home and say something kind to each person in their house.  Our words of love, thanks and compliments are so life giving.  The challenge is to take advantage of them everyday.  Yes, we will know when we miss the chance to be life giving through our thoughts and actions, but we know God loves us so much he will never stop trusting we will live what we believe with one another.  As much as we seek to do penance by fasting, watching what goes into our mouths, even more we give life and witness to our faith when we allow what is only good, loving, truthful and life giving to come out of our mouths. 

Pope John Paul II says, "The Church needs us to enlighten the world and to show it the path to life.  The challenge is to make the Church’s "yes" to life concrete and effective." Through our thoughts, words and actions we make the Church alive, vibrant and life giving everyday of our lives.

Father Walden