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In a Lenten season of another time, my brother-in-law, in the throes of raising four children with my sister, declared he was taking a moratorium on Lent. He said he lived in a perpetual state of Lent and had nothing more to give. His declaration was made in jest, but an element of truth was underlying his words. As a busy husband and father he was often tired, working hard to support his family and keep up with all their activities. He could not imagine adding one more effort to his life.
We have teased him about this story over the years. He is a good-natured, kind man with a twinkle in his Irish eyes. He seldom complains, cares deeply for his family, and volunteers in the community and church.
While Lenten practices have changed since my brother-in-law was raising four young children, his sentiment rings true today. Given the dramatic change in our country's leadership, we are living in a suspended state, unsure of what will come the next day. To speak of sacrifice is to speak about the reality many already live in.
Today’s gospel is familiar. We have heard it countless times. Jesus is tempted with power and glory if only he will worship the devil. This brings to mind an image of the devil, a shady-looking character, negotiating with Jesus, and Jesus, understanding the devil's foolishness, if not evil intent, rebukes him. If this were a movie, we would clap in approval for good denying evil the opportunity to prevail.
The devil we imagine in this scripture story is not the devil we see. Our sightings of the devil are subtle and emerge via the notion that certain groups of people are not worthy of being part of society and should be shunned. Our sightings include a call to demonize diversity in society rather than learning from it and celebrating it. Our sightings include blatant calls for the supremacy of the white race and, more often than we want to admit, specifically, the white man.
We want a peaceful, thoughtful culture where we can raise our children, delight in our grandchildren, and enjoy the beauty of the world around us. This has felt elusive lately given the chaos we hear, read, and see.
Where does this leave us this Lent? Phyllis Zagano, internationally acclaimed Catholic scholar and lecturer, offers silence as the practice to help us navigate this difficult time and honor our belief that these forty days of Lent are meant to make a difference.
In her book, Sacred Silence, Daily Meditations for Lent (Clear Faith Publishing, 2023)she takes the reader through the forty days of Lent with thought-provoking reflections, offering moments of prayer and sacred stillness ending with a question for the day.
The decision to intentionally embrace sacred silence for a few minutes each day for the forty days of Lent seems appropriate for our muddled times. Since it is said to take thirty days to build a new habit, it may usher in a new way of being.
Peace,
Anne
Please scroll down to enjoy Fr. Randy Roche's wisdom on Lent and expanded information on our Italy adventure coming up next September. All are welcome!
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