To say that Lent is not ‘Ordinary Time’ is true of the liturgy. It is an intensive time of our Christian year! It is not supposed to be ordinary in the day-by-day way we live our lives.
Does it make any difference to us that we are in Lent or is it just the same as every other time of the year? We can just let it pass us by. Does there not need to be something different about Lent? It is a time to ‘keep an eye’ on ourselves.
We have to ‘keep an eye’ on everything around us! We have to see how things are going; are they deteriorating or improving or going along okay. This is true of our most important possessions: our house, our car, our garden, or job. It is also true of the people around us: our children, our elders, our family life, our neighbours, our friends. Without sensible attention, all such things can deteriorate.
We also have an ‘keep an eye’ on ourselves and on the quality of our lives, and on the Christian quality of our lives. Things like constant tiredness or perpetual over-activity can undermine us personally and can eat away at our faith life.
Quiet times can seem to us a luxury. But are they not a necessity? Can we deepen our relationships without such quiet times? Can we bring out the best in ourselves without them? Can we take time to appreciate God’s place in our lives without them?
Perhaps we may even be a little afraid of quiet times and what they may bring up in us? Yet, is it not true that we really find ourselves in quiet, especially in quiet times that are prayerful?
Lent is a time to name the things which can distract us and even take us over. We can look into ourselves and ask why we talk too much rather than listening? Or ask ourselves why we don’t like this or that person? Or ask why we don’t feel at peace with ourselves? Or why we eat or drink too much? Or ask why there is some ‘undigested’ experience within us that we need to talk to someone about?
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Laura Facci says:
Thank you Father Frank for your down to earth reflection on our Lenten journey.