As we proceed on this Lenten journey, we are invited to withdraw into the desert–both inwardly and outwardly–the place where God speaks to the heart. We are also invited into a period of repentance, prayer, and a return to a more simple lifestyle. We must be rooted in silence and contemplation, as we are reminded that the deepest transformation happens not in the busyness, but in the stillness.
This deep encounter with God must also influence us as we engage in the world. As the prophetic voices of Elijah, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross remind us, true contemplation leads to action–action rooted in truth, justice, and love.
Also as we walk this journey into the desert, let us embrace the pillars of Lent–prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
St. Teresa of Avila calls prayer “an intimate sharing between friends.” Let us deepen our interior life by making time for silence, allowing God to reveal himself to the quiet of our hearts.
Fasting is not just about giving up favorite things or food, but about freeing ourselves from anything that keeps us from God. St. John of the Cross teaches that detachment from lesser goods makes room for the greater good–union with Christ.
Love should be at the heart of Lent. St. Therese of Lisieux reminds us that “charity consists in bearing with the faults of others, in not being surprised at their weakness, in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue.” We need to see the dignity of every human being and respond with love.
As we approach the Cross this Lent, may we ask for the grace to be people of truth, justice, and love–not just in words, but in the way we live.
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