 Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington
"Lent is coming!"by Bishop William S. Skylstad (From the Feb. 5, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)
Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season. Although not a day of obligation, Church attendance is high. The popularity of the day is especially true in the Hispanic community. There is something about the blessing with ashes on our foreheads that reminds us of our mortality and the full reality of life. The Church offers either of two formulas for the distribution of ashes: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” Both blessings are sobering in their implications and invitations. For all of us, Lent is a time of rich possibilities for renewal of mind, heart and hand. We live in days of great complexity, surrounded by a multiplicity of images, difficult choices and great opportunities. As Catholics, we are, most of all, followers of Jesus. We are called to be effective witnesses of the Gospel. Periodically one hears the criticism that the Church is going back to business as usual. The same criticism can also be made of each of us individually. For us as Church, business can never be as usual. From a spiritual standpoint, maintenance mode is deadly. Pope John Paul II has talked about “the Church reformed,” but also a Church constantly in need of reform. That’s part of the conversion and renewal journey that never lets any of us off the hook. We are called to be effective witnesses of the Gospel. None of us ever does that perfectly. That’s why we must constantly challenge ourselves to do better. When visiting one of our diocese’s parishes several weeks ago, I was touched by a little fellow at Mass, two or three years old. After we all made the sign of the cross at the beginning he continued in his own little awkward way, doing it over and over. He was trying to get it down, and I’m sure in a relatively short time he did. And all of us, too, working within our hearts, are trying to get it down, get it right. We don’t do everything in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That’s why, with the opportunity of Lent coming, we can’t let Lent pass by unnoticed. We have the opportunity to enter into it with great seriousness, letting the Lord work on us so that we might genuinely and effectively give witness to Jesus’ life here on earth. At our last Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting in December, Msgr. William Van Ommeren at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center shared with me a quote I found challenging: “Unless today the Word be made flesh, how will others see him?” There are lots of areas that challenge us. How well do I love and forgive? – and that means loving and forgiving in the manner to which Jesus calls me. How have I accepted the spirit of joy, the special gift of Jesus both in the Resurrection and in the cross? Are we truly people of hope whose object, as St. Paul reminds us, is never seen? We are hopeful because we trust in God’s providence. Peace is also a gift from God, and we are called to be peacemakers. St. Paul in his second letter to Corinthians tells us that we are ambassadors for Christ, God as it were appealing through us. Are others seeing Christ in me, in my family, in our parish? As we Catholics observe Lent this year, will it make any difference in Eastern Washington? I suspect we would all say, “We sure hope so.” But if that is going to happen, it is going to have to begin and happen in each of us. If we keep Lent, and then come across as crabby or arrogant to those about us, there is a big disconnect. Lent is a time when we make connections and are better for the effort. Others will be, too. As a time for penance and renewal, Lent can be a creative opportunity for individuals, families and parishes to embark upon a season that is spiritually fruitful and, I hope, life-changing as well. It’s a time to stoke the spiritual fire in our hearts. I invite you after Holy Week to write to me, sending me your experiences, either individually or as a community of faith. Then I will do a summary report of the responses I receive in this column. We all learn from one another, and faith sharing tends to energize and inspire us all. We all have a responsibility to respond to the call of the Gospel. We all have a responsibility for our Church. Like everything else in life, we don’t do that task perfectly, but maybe, just maybe, this Lent will mark a significant moment of more effectively sharing the remarkable presence of Jesus and his Spirit in our lives. May God grant you much peace and joy.
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Several of the Church’s liturgical seasons have a sense of hopeful expectation about them. We just experienced that during Advent, as we prepared for the coming of the Lord and the celebration of Christmas. It’s also true of the season of Lent as we prepare for the Sacred Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday – and Easter.