Reflect, then Act

We presently find ourselves within the short liturgical season of Pre-Lent, and we are looking forward to the time of Great Lent that is to come, as well as examining our lives keeping in mind the call of the disciples that we just experienced in the past Ordinary Time season.  Ash Wednesday this year will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, only a little more than a week and a half away.  On that day we will place those ashes on our foreheads in a reminder of our weak and frail humanity and what is the nature of our relationship to Almighty God.  Especially within our present culture, I believe that this is an important aspect of our religious and spiritual lives, because so much of our daily living encourages us to rely only on ourselves and to consider only ourselves in all the dealings of our lives.

But along with this recognition on this day, Ash Wednesday is also the entrance into a season of spiritual work and increased devotion.  We are called to adopt or strengthen the Lenten disciples of prayer, fasting and giving.  We are called to participate in the devotional life of the Church in the celebration of the Stations of the Cross, or Bitter Lamentations, or Rosary Devotions, or the contemplation of the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross.  It is also during this time that we are called to delve deeper into the Scriptures and especially into the Passion of our Lord.  We spend time in Penitential Devotions acknowledging and seeking forgiveness of our sins.  The Church also calls us to be a participant in the various Lenten Retreats that are held during this season as well.

And through all of this spiritual work we seek to more closely follow Jesus.  We do this by putting the words that we say each and every time we recite the Confiteor during the celebration of Holy Mass into action in our daily lives.  In the Traditional Rite we say, “I resolve to amend my life, to improve and sanctify it, that I may become worthy to serve You faithfully all the days of my life.”  In the Contemporary Rite we have the same concept, “I promise to change my way of living, so that through a deeper holiness I may better serve You throughout the rest of my life.”  In either case it is with these words in mind that we approach the disciplines of Lent.

But there is also a concern here.  As Christians, we can all certainly agree that “to amend my life, or “to improve and sanctify it,” or “to change my way of living,” or have “a deeper holiness,” are all wonderful spiritual goals, but we must ask how exactly do I accomplish this.  Where exactly do I need the amendment?  What needs to improve and be sanctified?  What needs to change?  Where do I need a deeper holiness?  There must be a time of reflection so that we can enter the season of Great Lent ready to do this spiritual work.

It is for this reason that we must take the season of Pre-Lent so seriously.  It is not just a prelude to Lent, but rather it is the season to take stock of our lives, see where the work needs to be done and then resolve to do this spiritual work in the Lenten season that is to come.

In the preparation booklet that has been sent to all the parishes of the Church the season of Pre-Lent has been divided into three portions to allow us to examine where we stand in our spiritual and moral lives and allow us to then approach Lent in an attitude of full awareness.

In this booklet of prayers and spiritual activities prepared by Fr. Dr. Scott Lill, we have seven days within the “Week of Recollection,” a further seven days in the “Week of Self-Examination,” and finally the few short days before Ash Wednesday as the “Days of Decision.”  The Sunday readings for this season can help us as a guide in these weeks.  On the First Sunday of Pre-Lent we encountered the Sermon on the Plain given by Our Lord.  He reminds us there of the situations in which some are called “Blest” and also to some He says, “Woe to you.”  These situations call us to consider our own lives and especially to evaluate our dependance upon Almighty God.  In the situations where Jesus says, “Woe to you,” they are the rich, the full or satiated, those who laugh or are contented and those approved by the world.  It is exactly in these situations, especially within our present culture, where we think that we are totally self-sufficient and that we do not need God.  On the contrary, the situations where Jesus called us “blest,” when we are poor, hungry, weeping, or ostracized and insulted, are conditions when we realize that we must depend upon Almighty God.  In this “Week of Recollection” we are called upon to fully realize that Almighty God must be the source and beginnings of all that we have and all we are.

In the second week of Pre-Lent, we hear, within the Gospel of Luke, Jesus continuing to teach us, “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.  Do not judge, and you will not be judge.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Pardon, and you will be pardoned.  Give, and it shall be given to you.” (Luke 6:36-38a)  In our “Week of Self-examination” we must search our hearts and our lives to see if we are truly living these words and also to what extent are we fully living them each and every day.

On the last Sunday of Pre-Lent, just a few days before Ash Wednesday and the start of Great Lent, we encounter the teaching of Jesus on our actions.  We are often times critical of others and judge them, but He tells us, “Why look at the speck in your brother’s eye when you miss the plank in your own?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ yet fail yourself to see the plank lodged in your own?  Hypocrite, remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:41-42)

It is in these last days before Lent begins that we must recognize “the plank” within our own eyes, whatever it may be, and resolve to remove it in the disciplines, practices and devotions of the Lenten season.  It is in this concrete way that we will “resolve to amend our lives, improve and sanctify them.”  It is how we will “change our way of living,” and seek to serve God “through a deeper holiness.”

My brothers and sisters within the Pre-Lenten season in our Holy Church, time is running short, but it is not entirely spent.  We still have an opportunity in this season to do the work of Recollection, Self-Examination and then to fully Decide to then enter the season of Lent prepared to do the work of joining our lives to Christ, seeking His forgiveness and modeling of daily living on His Passion and self-giving.  With prayer and thanksgiving for the season of Pre-Lent to prepare for the working of the Lenten disciplines in our lives, in our homes and in our churches, let’s be ready to approach Great Lent seeking to always become closer to Jesus.

A Prayer of Commendation

Into Your hands, O God, I commend myself and all those who are dear to me.  Fill me with the Holy Spirit and strengthen me for the work You have given me to do.  May I complete that work with a glad heart.  As I serve You and walk before You, help me to live in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.  I ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

A General Thanksgiving

Father all-powerful, Your gifts and countless and Your goodness infinite.  I come to You, O God, offering my most humble and heartfelt thanks for the many blessings I have received from You.  Open my heart to the needs of others, so that I may share Your gifts in loving service.  Teach me to offer my thanksgiving not only with my lips, but in all that I do.  I ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.