Lent, 40 Days of Renewal

Much like a good spring cleaning, the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to put our spiritual house in order. Like a closet, drawer or garage that becomes cluttered over time with junk we really don’t need, so do our daily lives become cluttered with things that keep us from God.

If we stop to take a look at our lives, we probably see that our days become so full that we need to view our planners before we say yes to another event. With my family we usually need through out a series of dates for everyone to review before we can come up with a date we can all get together.

Our children and grandchildren come home from school, only to change clothes and grab a snack before they rush off to another activity. Family meal time often evolves around a take out/drive-thru due to our fast pace of life.

Don't get me wrong, some extra activities are good for us and the occasional pizza, burgers, or whatever your particular fast food pick might be, isn't a big deal. This is the American lifestyle right? Don't we enjoy this?

What I'm referring to is the simple fact that we are so busy being busy!

I need my time with God; I need my quiet time of prayer.  I'm guessing ,you probably need it  too!

Jesus needed that time in the desert. He needed that 40 Days.

As I received my ashes on Ash Wednesday, the lay minister marked my head and said, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”. Returning to my seat, I pondered these words and what they specifically meant for me. Great challenges came to mind. And, like the clutter in my closet, I knew it was time to do some spiritual house cleaning.

Create a clean heart in me, O God; give me a new steadfast spirit.    (Ps 50:12)

"Dear children! I invite you to surrender to God. In this season I specially want you to renounce all the things to which you are attached but which are hurting your spiritual life. Therefore, little children, decide completely for God, and do not allow Satan to come into your life through those things that hurt both you and your spiritual life. Little children, God is offering Himself to you in fullness, and you can discover and recognize Him only in prayer. Therefore make a decision for prayer. Thank you for having responded to call" BVM, Medjugorge, February 25, 1990


Dear Children, I am coming to you as a mother and I desire that in me, as in a mother, you may find your abode, consolation and rest. Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, pray. Pray with humble devotion, obedience and complete trust in the Heavenly Father. Trust as I have trusted when it was said to me that I will bring the blessing of the promise. May out of your hearts, from your lips, always come forth: 'May Your will be done!'. Therefore, trust and pray so that I can intercede for you before the Lord, for Him to give you the heavenly blessing and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Then you will be able to help all those who do not know the Lord - you, apostles of my love, will help them to call Him 'Father' with complete trust. Pray for your shepherds and place your trust in their blessed hands. Thank you.BVM, Medjugorge,  March 2, 2014

Father Baron Comments on Lent

The Impossible is Possible

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them. ~ Taken from Isaiah 11:1-10

Today we hear about opposites attracting, about the less likely companions becoming friends or at least being at peace with one another.


When we find peace within ourselves, we become the kind of people that can live at peace with others, even the most unlikely.1

Pope Francis, this morning in his daily homily, urged those present to reflect on how the peace of which the prophet Isaiah speaks of “is a peace that is so moving, it is a peace of joy, a peace of praise,” which we can also say is “noisy, in praise, a peace that bears fruit in becoming a mother of new children.”........


This peace “comes precisely in the joy of praise for the Trinity, and of evangelization, of going to the people to tell them who Jesus is,” noted the Pope, drawing attention to Jesus’ “dogmatic declaration” in the Gospel when he affirms to his father that “you decided to reveal Yourself not to the wise, but to the little ones.” 2.
 
During this first week of Advent, let us pray for the peace we might need to be at peace with those we are not.


1. Adapted from Peace Pilgrim Quotes 

2 CNA