Donna M. Cole

Lent comes upon us with a sort of troubled grace. Despite our best intentions, we wander from what God desires for us. This season draws from us renewed commitment to the things that are of God. We pray for the courage to turn away from what tempts us toward the darkness, and we pray in solidarity with those experiencing the light that is Christ for the first time. Even as we do, we recognize that this is a journey we have traveled before; this threshold is not new.

Yet even now, says the LORD, 
     return to me with your whole heart, 
     with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.

There is no end to the number of times or ways that we can return to the Lord,

for gracious and merciful is he, 
    slow to anger, rich in kindness, 
    and relenting in punishment. (Jl 2:12-13)

It is good that God's capacity to forgive is so much greater than our ability to hurt each other and ourselves. We seem intent on division, when we are called to unity and compassion. With so much energy devoted to issues of authority, authenticity, and orthodoxy, there is little left for discerning mission, much less acting on that call. The strife has left many drained and disheartened. Still we go on, for the Spirit cannot be denied, but how we will go on remains to be seen. Lent is a time when we are called to reflect on who we are and how we live out our identity in Christ.

In this issue of ML, Ron Raab reflects on God's grace and sense of humor in his own journey of discernment in ministry. Todd Flowerday explores the community of the catechumenate in the context of the larger church community. Paige Byrne Shortal returns by popular demand with the second series of the parish Lenten Pledge. I offer some thoughts on Lent as part of the liturgical cycle of prayer throughout the year.

As we pray our way through Lent, we would do well to pray for our church as we pray for our catechumens:

God of power, 
you sent your Son to be our Savior. 
Grant that we, 
who, like the woman of Samaria, thirst for living water, 
may turn to the Lord as we hear God's word 
and acknowledge the sins and weaknesses that weigh us down.

Protect us from vain reliance on self 
and defend us from the power of Satan.

Free us from the spirit of deceit, 
so that, admitting the wrong we have done, 
we may attain purity of heart 
and advance on the way to salvation. 
(Adapted from the First Scrutiny)

Then, even now we might be able to find the joy that is the mark of Christ's own. Even now we might know the peace that comes from acting justly. Even now we might know the consolation of treating all people with dignity. Even now we might care less about language and more about the poor. Even now our return to the Lord might be with our whole lives, hearts, and minds. New life awaits us. Even now. ML

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