Beads, parades, more beads, lots to eat and drink, beads, high-stepping band members, King cakes, more beads, all the stuff of Mardi Gras. And now that ‘Fat Tuesday’ is behind us, let us break into Lent!
Within my Roman Catholic tradition, Lent is a time of atonement, a time to become introspective examining my conscience and seeking forgiveness.
I am called to not only ask the Lord’s forgiveness, but also the forgiveness of my sisters and brothers who I might have offended. And if my forgiveness is sincere, then I’m willing to break away from my old heart in order to correct my misdeeds doing all in my power not to repeat these offenses.
I am simply called to be honest with myself so that I can be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). In examining my thoughts and actions, I need to focus not only on myself, but my surroundings, since as a baptized Christian I have been called to love my God and my neighbor. Are the people around me suffering? Is someone in need of clothing, food, or even some small gesture of simple kindness and concern? Behaving as a child of God does not always mean that I am quiet and immobilized, seated in a pew with hands folded, head bowed.
And especially during the Lenten season, preparing for our great Feast of Easter, as I live with eyes and ears open, focusing on the people around me, can I break into a better understanding of how I can bring God’s kingdom to my world?
Can I break the bonds of sin in my own life while hearing the pains and cries of the poor and disheartened around me?
Can I break my habits of apathy and indifference which can weigh so heavily in a busy and task-filled world? Can I break away from all the ‘doing’ and return to ‘being’ what Jesus has called me to be? As I learn in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter five, can I break into a life of:
Being poor in spirit,