Saturday after Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2018): Lent is springtime for the soul

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 58: 9b-143
Ps 86: 1-6
Luke 5: 27-32
usccb.org/bible/readings/021718.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_02_17.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Good News Reflection:  

Did you know? The word “Lent” comes from the old Teutonic English, “lencten,” which means “spring.” The Church of that period (Anglo-Saxin) connected it to the Latin term quadragesima (in Spanish “cuaresma”), meaning the “fortieth day”. Did you notice that “Lent” means “40 days” but there are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday? This is because every Sunday of the year is a celebration of Easter. Even Passion Sunday.

After I became Catholic in 1977, I began to think of Lent as a harsh, difficult period that drags on and on, because it focuses on fasting and examining our consciences for sins from which we need to repent. But I now believe that Jesus wants us to have a more joyful mindset about it!

We’re actually supposed to enjoy repentance, because it means growing closer to Christ. It opens us to experience more completely our life in the Holy Spirit. Sure, purification is not easy. It’s a wrestling match between us and God. And God, who is far, far stronger than we are, lets us win if we really want to win. But do we really, really, truly want to win? The presence of Christ within us says no, what we really do want is the freedom to be who we truly are as baptized children of the Father: holy, beautiful gems.

Lent is supposed to be a season of faith-growth, and that’s an excellent reason to be joyful about repentance. Facing our sins is the only way to overcome them. And facing our sins is a lot easier when we stop picturing God as a punisher who is wagging his parental finger at us in disgust. The devil knows our name but calls us by our sins. He is the awful accuser. God knows our sins but calls us by our name. He is the wonderful believer in our goodness (because he put that goodness into us, duh!), so let’s allow this year’s season of Lent be one of renewed strength. Let’s be like a garden watered by a spring that never fails to renew us.

Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Look to the past with gratitude. 
Live the present with passion. 
Move into the future with hope. 
Find creative ways to proclaim the gospel of joy!
(Wisdom by Pope Francis)

© 2018 by Terry A. Modica

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