Preparing for Lent: Embracing the Journey of Renewal

03-02-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear parishioners,

This is the last Sunday before Lent 2025. We start our journey on Ash Wednesday – March 5th. Lent, if embraced well, can be a time of growth in the awareness of God’s loving presence. I encourage you to start getting ready to take the 40-day journey of renewal. God always invites us to go deeper and this Lent is no different. Find some way to help you stay alert on the journey.

The Gospel this week from Luke reminds us, “that a good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit.” How can this be a fruitful Lent for us as individuals, families, and a community? “Pilgrims of Hope – Journey to the Cross” will be our focus this year. We will look to the Cross and ponder how growth comes through the mystery of the Cross. It will be a journey of hope because we know that the journey to the cross leads in faith to the Resurrection and new life. Why else would we embrace it?

A reminder that we are promoting the small group faith sharing through “Christ in our Neighborhood.” This is a format for reading the Sunday Scriptures and reflecting on them together as a family, neighbors, a group of men or women, a couples group or however you chose to gather in groups of 8-10 for one hour. It can be a wonderful way to grow in your awareness of God’s saving plan for all of us. Of course, there seems to be thousands of different books, programs, and phone apps that are focused on Lent. They are meant to help but can sometimes be overwhelming. I find sometimes we can take on too much for Lent and instead of quieting ourselves we are busier trying to fit in all these extra prayers. Before long, we are anxious and have a sense that we have failed. Keep it simple. Choose one new approach to prayer, fasting, or almsgiving this year. Remember you are on a journey and every year is a new way to grow.

This year I am using a book I found called “Love without Measure – Extracts from the writings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux” by Paul Diemer. For me, it is new and very doable as part of my Lenten daily prayer. I pray it leads me to a deeper love of our Patron Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and his great insight into God’s love for us. The bulletin stuffer this week is meant for you to keep at home for the season of Lent and lists the many ways we as a community will come together to help one another on the journey.

We are Pilgrims of Hope – Journey to the Cross.

With peace and hope in Him,

Fr. Fred