Lent Reflections

On Holy Saturday each year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Easter Vigil, a unique occasion that differs from a typical Sunday Mass. During this special liturgy, we light a new Paschal candle, we bless fresh holy water, consecrate new hosts, and new members are warmly welcomed into the Catholic family through the Sacraments.

We have no choice today but to confront death. It’s uncomfortable and we don’t like it. We’d much rather be cheery and think happy thoughts. But the image of two pieces of wood forbids it. Those crossed beams tell us, harshly, that somebody died there, to save our lives, with eternal love.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus wrestled with a complicated dilemma. He had to go, but He wanted to stay. In His own words, “If I do not go, the Holy Spirit will not come to you.” Still, He desired to remain with us. He did not want to leave us alone, by ourselves.

We begin Holy Week on Palm Sunday, remembering Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem. It is the first significant event of the week leading up to His passion.

When we read the Gospels carefully, we quickly realize that the message of Jesus is one of transformation. Every story He told, every action He took, and every word He spoke was an appeal for change – change for the better.

As Jesus carried His cross to Calvary, He endured unimaginable physical and emotional suffering. He had been brutally beaten and mocked. He was forced to bear the weight of the cross in the presence of hostile crowds.

Lent offers a powerful opportunity to remind ourselves that prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue. It invites us to reflect on the depth of our prayer lives – both private and liturgical.

Throughout our lives, we all bear the weight of the cross. The disappointments, the addictions, the insecurities, the illnesses, the death of loved ones. The cross is a part of our human condition. We each carry our cross, and we are surrounded by our brothers and sisters who carry their own.

As we begin Lent, nature invites us to reflect on two words: "New life." Buds will soon bloom into colorful flowers, trees will be clothed in fresh green leaves, and the air will be filled with sweet, fragrant scents. This season of renewal calls us to embrace the newness that God offers.

A Special Prayer for the Lenten Season