“Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God.” (Jl 2:13) These are the words of the prophet Joel, which we read every year on Ash Wednesday as we begin the holy season of Lent.
Lent is often thought of as a time in which we give something up, fast, make charitable contributions, or even attend devotions such as Stations of the Cross. All of these practices are commendable, and beneficial external signs that aid spiritual growth. However, the season of Lent also invites us to a deeper interior conversion. Lent asks us to consider how faithful we are to God’s call in our lives.
The Lord wants to heal and strengthen us by the fire of His love, and this season is an opportunity to renew our love for God. Pope Francis wrote in a Lenten reflection for 2017, “If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.” This Lent is an opportunity for us be transformed by encountering God in our midst.
I hope this Lenten season offers each and every one of us the opportunity to grow in love with Christ. We will have expanded occasions for the sacrament of reconciliation, evenings of reflection, and a Lenten speaker series (on select Wednesday evenings) to help us on our faith journey. These are detailed in the bulletin, and in the Lenten mailing that went out to each household. In addition, there are a number of opportunities to volunteer and be involved here at the parish. There is no particularly “correct” way to commemorate Lent, but this season is a gift for us to focus on our relationship with the Lord, and to remember the sacrifice He made for love of us.
World Marriage Day: February 11th is the annual commemoration of World Marriage Day. We today honor and ask God’s blessing upon all our married couples who witness to the power of God’s love in their life. The union of a husband and wife is meant to mirror the image of the love of the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am grateful to Mrs. Jackie Schratz and her organization, Mission Project Love, which has partnered with Resurrection Parish to help strengthen marriages and form couples preparing for marriage. Please look for more information on activities for married couples in the parish in the bulletin and on the website.
World Day for the Sick: February 11th is also the celebration of the World Day for the Sick. Today we pray for all those who are sick in body, mind, or spirit, and ask Jesus and our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes to heal those in need of God’s grace.