Fr Paddy Byrne: Lent is always an invitation to begin again
The season of Lent is a time of prayer and reflection
OUR WORLD is indeed going through troubled times. In a time of turbulence, it is important to be reminded that Christian values such as faith, hope and love are deeply relevant. Kindness and compassion are qualities that will always prevail.
It seems America’s knew President gets non-stop media coverage. Much of its content over the past few week’s highlights a determined and hectic leadership that is intent on implementing promises to the electorate. Ireland has always enjoyed a close relationship with the USA, with more than 10% of America’s population identifying as Irish. I hope that the traditional St Patrick's Day gathering in the White House will continue. I pray in a volatile time that common sense will prevail.
Wednesday 5 March begins the season of Lent. As we get ready to welcome March, we also officially begin the season of spring. According to the English Catholic priest Cardinal John Henry Newman: ‘Growth is the only evidence of life.’ Life is most apparent in the springtime with the bursting and budding of flowers, trees and whistling of birds. Winter precedes this era of new life. Is it not interesting that within nature, newness of life springs forth from the cold, dark dreariness of winter? Currently, we live in a time of transition. March is the chimeric month whereby it roars in like a lion and goes out like a lamb! I think it’s no coincidence that the Holy Spirit guided the early Church and sustained Christians through the ages to place Lent at the lowest point (climatically speaking) of the calendar year.
Saint Basil, known as the Great, was a fourth-century bishop of the Eastern Church who was known for his care for the poor. He was also the writer of a monastic rule of life, which is still followed today by monks. He wrote a short piece on fasting, which can help us to a wider understanding of what it means: ‘Do not limit the benefits of fasting merely to abstinence from food, because a true fast means refraining from evil. Lose every unjust bond, put away your resentment against your neighbour, forgive him his offences. Do not let your fasting lead only to wrangling and strife. You do not eat meat, but you devour your brother; you abstain from wine, but not from insults. So all the labour of your fast is useless.’ Maybe we could extend that idea a bit further. Why not do some of these?
Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day
Fast from judging others. Before making judgments, recall how we wish God to overlook our faults
Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus’ promise that he has a mission for us in life. Whatever you give up for Lent, don’t let it be hope
Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, stop and recall some of the good things that happened to you in your life
Fast from resentment and bitterness. Work on forgiving those who have hurt you
Fast from spending too much money on yourself. Reduce your personal spending and spend instead on the poor – for example, through Trócaire.
In Lent, don’t just give up, take up. Take up prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Give up sin and take up repentance.
Lent is always an invitation to begin again. This is a time above to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Lent can be a most profound and liberating personal journey. Building a relationship that gifts our personal lives to hope and indulge in a most resilient confidence. A confidence that reminds us, no matter what happens, we are not alone. The light of Christ is brighter than any clouds of despair or uncertainty. In the words of St Paul: ‘With God on our side, who can be against Us?’.
Make the most of this sacred season as an opportunity to grow in our humanity. The more we accept our wounded selves the more we grow in wholesomeness and peace of mind. When this happens our vision and perspective becomes positive and bright.
I Will Turn (a daily prayer for Lent) Lord
