Dear Friends,
As Catholics, we use the season of Lent to remind us of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection at Easter. During Lent, it is traditional to fast, pray and to practice self-denial. But “keeping” Lent also involves taking up things that help us focus on God. In particular, we are encouraged to set aside time for reading, meditating on God’s word and praying. The season of Lent is a journey that can help us find a time and space to do this – on the move, at work or at home.
Our Marist Constitutions state that “God chooses individual men and women and calls each of them by name. He leads them into the desert and there speaks to their hearts. Those who heed Him, He sets apart. By His Spirit, He transforms them constantly, leading them more deeply into His love in order to send them out on mission.” (C. 2:11)
Lent can be for each of us a time where we make a greater effort to be led by God. Lent invites us into the desert to examine our lives and calls us to come back to God.
Our prayer this Lent can be a recognition and contemplation of the beauty of God’s creation which is all around us.
These simple yet challenging Lenten attitudes of prayer can offer us a wonderful opportunity to continue to nurture our personal relationship with God through his Son, Jesus.
May this Lent deepen our commitment to follow Jesus in the way of Mary. Be assured of my good wishes and prayers.
