News & Notes: Feb. 9, 2010

Dear Parents,

God’s peace!

“Repent and believe the Good News!” This is one of the phrases that can be used as the sign of the cross is made on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. These simple words need to be pondered throughout the season of Lent in an effort to deepen our understanding of these words and their application to our own lives. Lent is only a week away…on February 17, 2010, we will find ourselves at the threshold of another season that affords us some time to repent of old ways that need to be righted, as well as to deepen our relationship with Christ, the source of all life.

After our First Friday Mass this past week, I shared with our students an image that I will take into this season of Lent. Perhaps this image may help to accompany you as you anticipate this time of reflection and prayer. I believe it’s rather easy for us to understand the time and hard work it takes to prepare for the arrival of a new baby. A room may be painted…furniture acquired…clothes purchased or borrowed…old things cleaned out…schedules rearranged…all in anticipation of new life entering our lives. If one were to ask a new mother or father if these tasks were overwhelming or a burden…I would imagine they might look rather puzzled… for the excitement and love that grows throughout the nine months carries with it joyful hope and deep love… so although the work to prepare is great…love knows no burden.

The experience of this new life entering our lives might be a good metaphor for the season of Lent. As we begin this penitential season, we are called to take on a new approach to life in anticipation of the great gift of Easter. We “clean out” the old habits and ways to ready ourselves for the grace of Easter…Christ’s gift of love…of assurance…of hope. It is good to spend some time in prayerful reflection to focus on what is standing in our way of knowing life to the fullest. Is it my health that needs to be more in line with true life? Do I need to quit smoking? Eat healthier? Exercise more? Curtail alcoholic drinking? Is it my schedule that needs to be changed? How much time am I truly giving to family? Where am I over-extending myself? Do I make any time for prayer? For celebrating Mass on Sunday?

It would be ridiculous to move new furniture into a room without moving out the old furniture that needs to be replaced. It is equally unreasonable to make sacrifices or to make promises of changing my lifestyle during Lent if I don’t begin to remove some habit or way of living that has outgrown its purpose or has kept me from being the person God created me to be. Lent provides a time (if I take it!) to clean out…rearrange…focus on the gift of new life that offers itself to me. Christ loved us…to his death. He emptied himself out of love for you and for me. His death and resurrection are the promise that I, too, will know resurrection. These preparations for Easter are not burdens if it they are done out of love.

What is it that we need to change? What is it that we need to refocus on as most important? How might I be more spiritually prepared for the Feast of Easter? Let us journey these forty days as people in anticipation of new life…growing more and more aware of God’s great love for us.

A blessed season of Lent!

In prayer,

Sr. Maureen

PS Your children have been prepared for Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent. Please take them to Mass on Ash Wednesday and spend some time as a family talking about what you might do to “clean out the old in anticipation of the new!”