Lent: A Fresh Start.
How many times in our life do we wish we could have another chance; a fresh start? Lent is the ultimate “do over.” We are given the chance to “reform our lives and turn to the gospel.”
Our society puts a great emphasis on New Years Day. We bury the regrets of the past year and look to a fresh start. We make resolutions to lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, read more, etc. How many people resolve to work toward spiritual improvement? How many of us make a resolution to go to Mass more often, read the bible regularly or pray daily? Ash Wednesday can be a wonderful “Spiritual New Years Day” for us. We are invited to take stock of ourselves; to identify those bad habits (or complacency) we have fallen into; and to change.
There is, however, a big difference between the New Years and Ash Wednesday conversions. No amount of champagne will ever cleanse us, but one single confession washes away all of our sins. We might be able to clean up our lungs and add days to our lives on earth by giving up smoking. But, by giving up sin, we clean up our souls and obtain eternity.
Many people may feel that Lent over-emphasizes our sins and our need to suffer. Lent is often perceived to be a depressing season during which we give up all the things we like and focus on our sins and failings. This way of looking at Lent really misses the point. Lent is a time that the Church asks us to take stock of ourselves and identify our failings. But, we are then called to work to change those failings. We are not to wallow in self-pity. Rather, we are to say “we are sorry” and move forward.
Saturday of the LOTW Kerygmatic Retreat is often referred to as a “dying day.” We hear about how we have separated ourselves from God and His plan for us through the original sin of Adam and Eve and through our own personal sin. We are asked to (1) Recognize our sin, (2) Repent of our sin, (3) Confess our sin, and (3) Reconcile with God and our neighbor.
Like on Ash Wednesday, we are called during Saturday of the Kerygmatic Retreat to take stock of those things which separate us from God. We are then called to give them up. We are called to suffer (a little) - not for the sake of suffering – but so that we might be filled with the love and joy that results from a purified relationship with our Lord.
Is it painful to recognize that we have willingly sinned against God? Yes! Is it hard to ask forgiveness? Yes! Is it hard to call to mind those hurts done to us throughout our lives and forgive those who have wronged us? Yes! Is it hard to change? Yes! But, is it worth the pain and effort? Yes! Yes! Yes!
Every Lent is an awesome gift to us. We are called to further purify ourselves and to draw closer to our loving Lord Jesus. We are reminded of the surrender that we made on our LOTW Retreat and every surrender that we have made throughout our lives. This year Lord, I want to know you better! This year Lord, I want to follow you closer! This year Lord I want to love you more!
+JITIY+ | 
