Week 4 of Lent

“Lord, that I might see” 

Jesus encounters a man blind from birth. Jesus touches him and his life and the lives of many are changed.  There is a new clarity and awareness.  There is a moment of enlightenment and light…the eyes of many are opened.  This story, as with many of the stories of transformation, healing and conversion, reminds us of the power of forgiveness and repentance.  It is the same in our own lives.  First we encounter Jesus. In this encounter with Jesus we “wake up”! Our encounter and our new sight impels us to go forth with new life. We go forth, washed and  cleansed. We recognize and know Jesus.  We believe!

  

“Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see your face.

Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see.”

Week 3 of Lent

“the water that I will give will become a spring of eternal life”

Encountering Jesus, we thirst for that which Jesus has inspired within us… faith, hope and love.  Along our Lenten journey we encounter Jesus in some of the most unlikely places and people.  We are challenged to cleanse our hearts and minds that we can see contemplatively the presence of our God and follow.  Our Lenten purification washes away our prejudices, biases, fears and anxieties.  We are freed so that we may “Go to all peoples” and “Announce the Good News”.  May the waters of our Baptism flow like a mighty river that our discipleship be real.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus says:

“For anyone who drinks it, the water that I shall give

will become in you a spring welling up to eternal life.”

Jn 4:13-14

Week 2 of Lent

              

             “transfigure us, O Lord… transfigure us O Lord”

Jesus leads Peter, James and John up a mountain and is transfigured

before them.  There is wonder and joy in recognizing Jesus.  It is

good for us too to experience mystical moments with Jesus.  To

recognize the ‘beloved’ sent by the Father in the people and events

of our lives.  We fast and pray that we may listen and respond to

Jesus’ call, ‘Come follow me’.  We commit ourselves to be a follower,

a disciple of Jesus. We pray to be transfigured, changed and converted. 

That our heart of stone be broken open and become a heart of compassion,

mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Week 1 of Lent

         “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert and is tempted by the devil. 

With Jesus, we call upon that same Spirit to lead us in moments of

dryness and withered spiritual life.  Lent calls us to recognize the

temptations in our lives and humble ourselves to call upon the Lord

in our weakness.  In these desert moments we recognize our thirst

and hunger to know and love our God more  deeply, more completely. 

Today Jesus continues to offer us the bread of heaven and the living

water of His Living Word.