When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Lent is for freedom

 


A year ago this week, COVID-19 made its presence painfully known to the entire world.  And it’s been a long, troubled year, to be sure.  To the extent that our hearts are troubled, distracted, self-absorbed, or so divided that they’re rebellious, we need to do things (acts of penance) to help us "turn back" to our Lord, with all our heart.  

The desire of most of us in our Lenten journey is most likely greater freedom - freedom to cooperate with, to respond to God's grace.  The "work" of Lent is to discover where and in what concrete ways we’re not cooperating - where and when we’re resisting the gift that God is giving us in Jesus (1Corinthians 1:22-25).  When we don't want to honor our God, or when we’re aggressive or covetous (desiring what’s not ours or what’s not good for us), then we’re out of balance and we can be quite closed to the love God wants to give us, in the form of new and everlasting life.

Lent is for freedom - freedom to make our heart like His.  It’s about freedom to give our life away.  It’s the process of practicing habits of thinking about the needs of others, before going after our own needs first.

So, at the end of this forty-day journey, the goal isn’t how many sacrifices we made, but how free we’ve become. We'll know this tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).  Who in my family is sensing that I'm less angry or selfish?  Who senses I'm softer and more compassionate?  Who would say that I'm seeming to be more generous and self-sacrificing?  Ultimately, how have I grown in compassion for the poor and those on the margins of society?  How have I thought about being their advocate in helping dismantle the unjust social structures which bind them in poverty and despair?  What’s different in my behavior, and shows how I've cooperated with grace?  What’s going to last?

What am I doing with the remaining weeks of Lent?  Whatever will help these kinds of graces grow in me.  Asking for them with deeper and deeper desiring.  Finding ways to say "no" to past habits and to practice new ones.  Giving thanks and praise when the grace comes. Feeling and celebrating how freedom and fidelity to the law of the Lord brings the gift of life (2Corinthians 3:17, Romans 6:20-22).

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