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"Everyone into the car! We are going on a trip." These are words that I have heard many times in my family. Every summer, we would take a trip which could take anywhere from two to 30 days.
Every year the Church invites us on a trip, on a journey that will last for 40 days. This is the Lenten journey. This is the time of Lent. This Lenten journey leads us to Good Friday and then to Easter.
As I prepare for another Lenten journey, I find myself asking two questions.
I believe this can come down to two essential things - time and reflection.
I look towards Jesus who spent an extended period of time alone in the desert preparing for his work, preparing for the building of the kingdom of God. So the first thing that I need for the Lenten journey is to lengthen (Lent means 'to lengthen') the time that I spend in solitude and in quiet. I need to find my own desert. Where can I be alone? In solitude? Is it in my room? On a walk? In the park?
I also need to spend time with the Word of God. What follow are some bible passages:
"Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned". Psalm 51
"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love..." Joel 2:13
"Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble". Psalm 91
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us". Romans 5:5
Reflecting on these passages, what words comfort me, affirm me, encourage me? I need to spend time allowing these words to enter me, to deepen their meaning for me. It is by allowing the words from Scripture to seep into my being that I will experience progression on my Lenten journey.
Again I return to the life of Jesus and see that during his journey of 40 days he was led by the devil to be tempted. He was offered riches and power. These temptations led him to an inner strength and peace as he prepared to do his Father's work. Jesus' journey took him out of the desert into his society where he spoke of a new reign, a new possibility, a new world. He spoke of a world where enemies would love one another, where one would give without counting the cost, where love would supercede the Law. This journey led Jesus to his suffering and death, culminating with His Resurrection, with new life.
During my Lenten journey I will be led to my deeper self, to who I am becoming. Along the route, I will discover not only my weaknesses but also my gifts and my strengths. I will realize that I am not alone on this journey. God has given me people who support me and who accept me as I am. My journey, like the journey of Jesus, does not last only during the 40 days of Lent. My journey is my life journey. Along this journey of life I will be faced with many dyings and risings. Each time I let go of a hurt, I am dying to self-pity and rising to new life. Every time I put aside my own desires and reach out to another, I am dying and rising again.
Lord,
That I may let go of grudges in order to forgive
That I may let go of past hurts so that I can be healed
That I may let go of judgments in order to accept
That I may let go of pity in order to be compassionate
That I may let go of greed in order to give to those in need
That I may let go of negativity in order to be positive
That I may let go of blame so that I can affirm.
That I may let go of hate in order to love
That I may let go of control in order to serve
ENJOY YOUR TRIP!
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