The Wisdom of Lent
There is no doubt that we are all, to varying extents, suffering because of the evil done by some of the members of the clergy and because of how it has been covered up and perpetuated by some of our bishops.
In the midst of our season of suffering the Church, in its Wisdom, gives us the structured path of Lent. The Season is structured by its 40 days of length, through its having unique prayers for every day of the season, and through its call for fasting, prayer and almsgiving. It is also a path which we “customize” by our Lenten observances and with traditions we may have grown up with.
One of the ways to connect the wisdom of Lent with what we are currently going through is to prayerfully reflect on the meaning of Lent.
I’d like to walk you through an example of this prayerful reflection by focusing one of the options for blessing the ashes on Ash Wednesday (which you will find below). As you read through the prayer slowly and prayerfully, here are some initial questions to keep in mind:
· What about the prayer strikes you as beautiful? as inspiring? as important? Why?
· What about the prayer raises questions in your mind or heart?
· What words or phrases jump out at you or are especially noticeable? Upon further reflection, what about those words or phrases makes them noticeable or noteworthy?
· Is there anything about the prayer that is unsettling? Why does it unsettle you?
Prayer for the blessing of Ashes
O God, who are moved by acts of humility
and respond with forgiveness to works of penance,
lend your merciful ear to our prayers
and in your kindness pour out the grace of your † blessing
on your servants who are marked with these ashes,
that, as they follow the Lenten observances,
they may be worthy to come with minds made pure
to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of your Son.
Through Christ our Lord.
As an example, let me share two of my thoughts as I reflect prayerfully on these words.
First, I notice that this blessing of ashes is more of a blessing of the people who will be marked with the ashes. It strikes me as beautiful that it is the people gathered together that are the focus of this prayer.
Secondly, I am struck by the idea of “being marked by these ashes” as opposed to “receiving” them. What does this mean? Whose mark am I receiving? What does it mean about who I am?
What what does this prayer reveal to you? I invite you to spend some more time with it. You can reflect on your own but if you need some further questions to help your reflection, here are a few that come to mind:
Some questions specific to this prayer
Do I need the internet to help me understand anything about this prayer?
What does it mean for me to have my mind made pure?
What does it mean for God to be “moved” by my acts of humility?
Do I feel as if I am heard by God’s merciful ear?
What are my Lenten observances?
For what do I long God to forgive?
What can the season of Lent be for me during my season of suffering?
Can I look with hope toward the celebration of the Paschal Mystery?
How might my suffering find an expression by the way I journey through Lent?
What action are you going to take in response to this reflection?
Does my reflection inspire in me some specific course of action? Has God asked something of me?
What can I concretely do to move in the direction of a “mind made pure”?
I hope this is fruitful for you. Perhaps it can be a daily experience. I found an amazing resource which has every prayer and reading for every day of Lent: http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/roman_missal/lentmass.htm
I would love to hear any enriching stories you might have as a result of prayerful reflection on your life, scriptures, prayers of Lent, etc.
And as always, if you are in the Auburn area and you do not already have a parish home, please come and make your home at St. Alphonsus (4 PM on Saturdays, 10 AM and 5 PM on Sundays). If you live in another area, please find a home in a local parish. Life is better with God in it, so attend you place of worship this Sunday.