Lent is a time to reflect and introspective. The Church tells us it is a time for prayer, almsgiving and sacrifice. We are asked to reflect on the passion of Christ and look to the promise and salvation of the Resurrection. Usually, we take time during Lent to curtail our activities and refrain from certain foods and activities. This is a time of fasting and abstinence. Though many of us may feel that this year has been a constant sacrifice as we have had to give up many activities already.
This year, I am looking at Lent as the beginning of a new year. A time of anticipation and promise. This Lent, let us try to reflect on what we have learned about ourselves and those things most precious to us. We have had a year of lockdowns, quarantines, denial, isolation and masks. But we have also had a year of reaching out by many new and old medias to try to keep in touch. We have seen what is important, friends, family and of course the Church. Many of us have had to do without these things.
This Lent, as I am preparing for Easter, I am also preparing for Holy Week and Easter back in the physical Church surrounded by family and friends. I hope that soon we will be meeting again in person. As we await our vaccination classification to be announced, either by age or condition, let us not forget that in the silence God speaks to us. Maybe we just needed some time to stop, slow down, and hear God’s voice.
I encourage everyone to make the most of this Lent by prayer and self-examination. There are many Bible studies, retreats and mediations to add to your daily prayer life.
Some are as follows:
Pray More Novenas has a Lenten retreat online.
Bishop Barron has a book of Lenten reflections based on the Gospel for everyday – online and in print.
Ascension Press has “The Bible in a Year” program with Fr. Mike Schmitz in a podcast that can be started at anytime.
St. Paul Center has a new online program for Lent – Parousia – The Bible and the Mass.
There are many more for you to consider.
Next month will be my last President’s message and I will miss writing these each month. There is no meeting for February. Our regular meeting time would have been Ash Wednesday and I think many of us are still apprehensive about going out. Watch for more information on future meetings in your inbox. There are many things on the horizon for our organization: Installation of new officers, the Summer Retreat, and the delayed 70th Anniversary Celebration.
Yours in Christ,
Teri Gordon
