This time, oh God, change our hearts and thoughts

Have you ever felt stuck in your Lenten practices? Attempts that didn’t lead to a change of heart and ongoing conversion? Several years back I came across a very interesting Lenten resolution written by Keith Bierraum. One “Lent I gave up my right to be offended and to take offense. Every day, practically every hour, I blundered my way into realizing how much time, effort and energy is take up with defending myself and exacting whatever retribution is most easily available. I have given too much energy on feeling wronged or feeling righteous toward anyone who has let me down or disagreed with me. This led to letting go of my right to be correct and to correct others because I am right. What a relief.”

Though exacting retribution seems way out of the ordinary (or is it?), I believe Keith’s resolution is a worthy consideration. My experience suggests that most/many of us know firsthand what he is saying.  Much of life’s precious time can be swallowed up in feeling offended and nursing past hurts which leads to destruction of one’s quality of life and absorbs too many thoughts. Awareness, humility, discipline and above all prayer become the ingredients for shedding the need to hold the grudge.

 

After pondering Keith’s experience, I am reminded of Luke’s parable of cleaning the house to get rid of one devil only to have seven more return to the empty house. (Luke11: 24 -25) In the decision not to take offense at remarks deemed hurtful or mean, it is of import to decide how to “replace” the time spent resenting, bemoaning or begrudging etc. with open hearted prayer, and engagement in behaviors that promote well-being and growth.  The Church’s ancient plea to Lenten discipline calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These praxis offers specific help to the seeker. All three offer opportunities to go out of self for the sake of deepening one’s relationship with God and God’s people. Think about what a beautiful world this could be if we nurtured and practiced forgiveness and loving-kindness.

Sr. Aileen Bankemper, OSB

Reawakening and Solidarity

This year, unlike in years past, I have found myself looking forward to Lent. Words like anticipation, opportunity and invitation kept coming to mind as I prayed and reflected on Lent’s approach.  Why the different attitude?  

Lent brings with it a sense of starkness in both liturgy and practice. I am craving the absence to enter more fully into the richness through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  During this season we each are called, so there is a built in solidarity with others who are marking this holy season.

Pope Francis writes:  “Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”  Lent calls each of us in different ways to “awaken” both individually and communally.  During Lent when I commit to prayer, fasting and almsgiving I do so in solidarity with my fellow pilgrims on the journey towards Easter. Here lies the power because as each of us commit to reawakening it spreads to those around us, and we together shake off our lethargy and move into action.

           May the practices we choose this Lenten season reawaken us to God and to our solidarity with one another as pilgrims on this journey not only through Lent, but through life.
      Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB

A Lenten Reflection

     Ash Wednesday ushers in another Lenten season for all of us. No matter what we decide to do as a Lenten practice, just stopping to think about the possibilities gives us a chance to examine our way of living the Christian life. Are we at one with those who suffer hunger? Do we give ourselves the chance to be silent and listen to our God in prayer? Do we do works of charity for others? 

     In the Holy Rule, Chapter 49, St. Benedict tells us that while “there is no doubt that monastic life should always have a Lenten character about it, there are not many who today have the strength for that.” In some ways it’s encouraging to know that the monks of the 5^th century were as weak as those of us in the 21^st century. The human condition hasn’t changed all that much. We don’t have the corner on selfishness and other faults. 

     St. Benedict further encourages each of us to take on some extra prayers, fasting and good works, to improve our Christian life. The readings for Ash Wednesday do the same, especially emphasizing keeping our resolutions to ourselves or at least not making a spectacle of our good works and fasting. 

     There are so many good choices. It’s hard to know what to choose for a Lenten resolution, but that’s no excuse not to make a choice, though. My mother who’s 91 years old does not eat dessert during Lent. She a real witness to me because she is totally committed and steadfast in that resolution. I can only hope to do as well when I finally decide. 

     For me, one of the blessings of the Christian community is knowing that others are committing to a special practice and making that effort to strengthen their spiritual lives at the same time as I. I count on that moral support and offer mine to all of you in your Lenten journeys. 

     A blessed Lent to all of us.  Sr. Nancy Kordenbrock, OSB