Lent, A Journey Into the Wilderness of Our Hearts

Beginning with Ash Wednesday we embark on a journey. For the next six weeks we prepare to stand up on Easter Sunday and renew our profession of faith.

In order that it be more than just words we read in the missal, we need to embrace these next weeks in all seriousness. We need to have an honest look into our hearts – to discover what requires our attention, if the renewal of our profession of faith is to be true.

Pope Francis, in his Pastoral Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, gives a compelling summery of the great wall of challenges the followers of Christ face today. Reading and studying his words provides us with an excellent resource for our Lenten journey.

They are indeed formidable and we may feel intimidated and wholly inadequate to face the challenges he sets before us, but before we can change the world we must realize that change begins with ourselves – it starts within me. It will be the work of the Spirit that will guide us to the bigger things.

So we take these three disciplines of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Works of Charity and submit ourselves to their scrutiny.

·        Make time for prayer, the prayer of listening. Ask the Lord to show you what is lacking in your faith.

·        In a spirit of self-discipline, ask for the courage to make the changes that will free you from all that holds you back from accepting the fullness of the gospel.

·        Let Christ’s love free you from yourself – and with the “Joy of the Gospel” renewed in your heart, be a sign of hope in action in the world you touch with your presence.

                                         

The series "Voices of Lent" with links found on the side panel is another resource for your Lenten prayer.