Today, more than ever, I wanted to say in the opening greeting: Dear friends in Christ, for 5 SHORT weeks, we have been preparing to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.
Although Lent started on Ash Wednesday is kind of quirky – with a freak ice-
storm and the loss of electricity – and no Masses – when Lent did take off – it flew by – at least it did for me.
I hope you have had a meaningful Lenten journey – to the desert, to enjoy some quiet, and to listen to the voice of God. To the mountain top, to cultivate your sense of awe and wonder of God.
To the orchard to be nourished in the ways of God, and then coming to your senses, and returning to the outstretched arms of God, no matter how far we strayed.
And then, finally, last week, to remember we are ambassadors of Christ, that as we have
been forgiven by our compassionate God – we need to forgive.
As we have been shown mercy, so we need to be merciful. And as we have been shown compassion, so must we be compassionate.
The Lenten journey is not yet over, though. There is one more important place we have to go and one more important thing we must do. We have to journey to the cross – and there, nail whatever is still holding us back from loving God and others to the wood of the Cross.
Maybe we are still holding on to our ego, which keeps us from being humble before God.
Maybe it is our possessions that keep us from being charitable.
Maybe it is our sense of righteousness that hardens our hearts and keeps them from
showing compassion and mercy.
Maybe it is a past hurt or pain or the sense of being forgotten or ignored by God, which keeps us locked in the past rather than embracing a future full of hope - which is God’s plan for us.
Whatever it is, let us come to the cross this week – nail it there – and walk away, allowing
God to shower mercy and grace down upon us. So that we can be the Easter people God is calling us to be: empowered with a new hope, and with a new outlook, and a new resolve to become more like Christ.
May this be our prayer this week:
Take, O take me as I am.
Summon out what I shall be.
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me.