LENT AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF MY LIFE

If a liturgical season could be my spirit animal, I think it would be Lent. I have really grown to develop a great love for this season. I think because it offers me time to reflect on how my life is to be a gift of love to the Lord. 

When I was young, I asked God to allow me to suffer at times to specifically help others in their pain. I was not ready for God to listen to my request, and I've continued to ask throughout my life...each time being blown away that God answers.

It is SOOOO hard to suffer, but when you believe and hope that your suffering will bring relief and redemption for others, the suffering becomes SWEET, INVIGORATING, and INVITING! That doesn't mean I suffer gracefully, beautifully, or patiently...but I have been graced often to see in a literal and powerful way how my suffering has given someone another chance at life. I've learned that desiring and being willing to do something looks very different than truly understanding its affect on your life and future...and man is there a lot of fear and insecurity when it comes to the heart and the future.

The reason I think Lent is my spirit animal is because although I welcome the suffering, I find that my patience and strength ends quickly and that's when temptation sets in. It is when I allow God to speak truth into my heart that I can fight those obstacles. And, it is the practice of Lent that has helped me to be joyful amidst suffering and to be open to sharing my suffering with others. This has given me countless opportunities to learn new and more wonderful things about my family, my friends, myself, and my God!

I may be wrong, but I believe Lent always begins with a Gospel reading in which Jesus says:

"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."--Matthew 6:16-18

We must be people of Joy! We must be people who can live lives of praise and thanksgiving. St. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors of God. Therefore we need to be a true witness as to what it means to fast and do penance, to love and make sacrifices, to live in a Christian community, to follow the Will of God.

This past Sunday in the Gospel of Mark we read:

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

At my Baptism I was called not only into relationship with Christ, but also into a relationship with others. I am called to love and make sacrifices, to live up to my Baptism and Confirmation, and to share the love of God with others.

I have experienced a lot of suffering: physical, emotional, spiritual and have found myself in the desert of life often. To name a few: having multiple surgeries and continuing to have constant chronic pain that makes it hard to understand what my future holds; manipulation and rejection by friends that have lead me to struggle with finding peace in relationships and friendships; disrespect shown to me and the faith in my profession which creates an atmosphere of mistrust and impatience; feeling confused about what my vocation truly is and how to live in my current vocation of the single life (and being afraid that it may be what I am actually called to).

When I am at my weakest moments I can tell that the temptations increase, the self-doubt and self pity increase, the hurtful words ever said to me come back in my memory. It seems like it would be so easy to give in to them and just give up finding joy.

But, this is why I have grown to love the season of Lent and why I’ve become ever SO grateful for the faith of my parents and the love of God. Since I was a child I have lived Lent every year. I’ve had to practice the life of sacrifice. I’ve had to live into the reality that true love and acceptance is not due to what I can do for others but in just being, and that we grow more complete when we allow our family, friends, and our God to love us especially during those moments of suffering. I’ve had to live in the desert of pain, and I know that living it with joy and hope helps to make it through the journey and is redemptive for myself and others. 

I am blessed with family and friends that have great and immense amounts of love for me. In my stubbornness and insecurity I let myself live in the desert longer than I need. I find myself being afraid that I will be abandoned and unwanted so I allow that temptation to control my strength to lean on others. That is why Lent is still so important in my life, and probably will always be...I have to remember that God is bigger than my temptations. I can suffer, and I can suffer easier and more joyfully if I let others love me and sacrifice for me.

I’ve had to learn how to “not show others that I am making sacrifices.” This was really only done when I had joy during those times of sacrifice. It isn't about not telling people, but in seeing how the sacrifices are life-giving instead of focusing only on what I don't have. It helped me to see the beauty of sacrifice and how that helps me to love more completely. AND THAT has helped me to find joy in the suffering.

My family, from the many sacrifices I’ve learned my parents made/make, to the sufferings of my siblings and nieces and nephews and how they are able to find hope and joy amidst the pain, and the amazing support of family and friends as I walk through life has helped me to grow into the person that sees God’s love, sacrifice, and support so much more clearly!

It is why my favorite Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus

Lent helps me to offer myself back to God and to trust He is going to allow me to offer myself to him but will also offer me a way through any darkness, fog, confusion, temptation that will be presented to me. And, the practices and life of Lent will continue to give me strength and courage to offer myself to God and to allow Him to show me how I am called to draw on His love and the love and support of my family and friends.

I pray that Lent is a time of growth and renewal for you!