Dear Parishioners,
How is your Lent so far? Lent is nearing its end. Next week is Palm Sunday and Holy Week begins. Maybe you attempted only some of the recommended
practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Maybe you did little or nothing. Maybe you tried,
failed and then gave up entirely.
Stop! It
is never too late to pick up the pieces and move forward once again. It is not too late to start changing your life for the
better. I have been there. Sadly, there were times in the past when I would
think that my practice of Lent seemed to be a failure (or at least much less
than I originally, idealistically intended.) Let me give some advice looking
forward.
First, make sure you take
some time to examine your conscience thoroughly and get to the Sacrament of Penance
and Reconciliation (confession) before Easter. To me, there is nothing
more fruitful for a person than to humble oneself before God and to admit one’s
sinfulness to Him in this grace-filled sacrament. I have seen lives dramatically
change over my past four decades of hearing people’s sins. I know well that I too
am a sinful human instrument in this
process. However, it is Jesus who forgives
the sins. As a Catholic priest, I absolve in
His Name. We all need God’s forgiveness and He indeed is abundantly merciful.
Don’t wait to the last minute when the confession lines tend to get long. To borrow
a Nike slogan: Just do it!
Second, add some prayer time to what you are already attempting. Maybe you
can pray a rosary, open the Holy Bible and start reading, participate in the Stations of the Cross, go to daily Mass,
make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or go to your inner room and simply talk
to God from the heart. These and other personal ways of trying to connect with
the Almighty—the God who created you, loves you and redeemed you—are never a
waste of time. God hears all, sees all and knows the deepest longing of our
hearts. Talk to Him. He’s waiting.
Next, if you are ready
for the ultimate challenge, attempt a No Device Day. I have often recommended
this as a means of penance (or fasting). Put the phone or tablet down.
Shut off the computer. Go radio silence
for the day. I think today some might call it ghosting—disappearing with no contact or communication. We are just
too dependent on technology for most everything. Maybe it will have to occur on
a day off from work, when we do not have business or other obligations, but try
to do it if you can. It is actually quite liberating. God often speaks in the silence.
Finally, do something nice for
someone without expecting any recognition or reciprocity. This personally
chosen act of charity should make someone’s life a little better or easier.
There is no limit to the creative ways in which we can help others. Decide on one.
Honestly, we never really know how
much time we have left, do we?
Take action while there’s
still time to make a difference in your life and in someone else’s life this
Lent.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
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