Lent: A journey into our Father’s love

We have begun our Lenten journey toward Easter. Since it’s a spiritual journey – a journey of faith – the destination is not a physical one. We won’t notice a change in geography or location when we arrive, but the journey is no less real. If we persevere in the journey, we will move from an old way of relating to God to a renewed one.

This journey of Lent often is depicted as a journey into the desert, reminiscent of the 40 years Moses and the Israelites spent in the desert when they had been delivered from their slavery in Egypt. 

This desert imagery also is evident in the Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent, which recounts how Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit. There, he was tested by the Evil One for 40 days. He gave evidence of his divine, sinless nature by remaining steadfast and dependent on the love of his heavenly Father. 

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “By the solemn 40 days of Lent, the Church unites itself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert” (CCC 540).

The journey of Lent is a time of prayer and almsgiving, but also a time of penance – a word that sometimes can carry negative or harsh connotations. 

Penance simply means a continual and intentional conversion of life moving away from reliance upon oneself and toward a deepening dependence upon God. 

The desert has long been associated with penance since early Christians fled the cities, with its worldly values, and sought in the desert a place to live the Gospel radically. In the desert, we are painfully aware of our vulnerability and dependence on God.

Lent is a time for us to journey into the desert where we will experience the same acute awareness of our own vulnerability and dependence upon the Jesus’ love. 

We make this journey with Jesus, accompanied by members of the Church, following in the footsteps of the many centuries of Christians who have gone before us. 

In our desire for holiness, we sometimes approach Lent as a time of self-reliance and not of growing dependence. We can treat Lent as a spiritual powerlifting contest where we try to show God, ourselves and others just how capable we are. Like Jesus, we will be tempted in the desert, and this attitude can be a temptation that will be an obstacle to our spiritual growth.

So, how should we approach Lent? 

Start with the traditional threefold biblical disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. If you are seeking some direction as you begin your Lenten journey, ask yourself: what is my greatest obstacle to receiving and depending upon God’s love? Is it a particular sin? Then, fast from that! 

Lent is a journey that moves us beyond obstacles that keep us ensnared in habits, relationships or things that are not God. We can begin our Lenten journey by asking God – in faith – to remove this obstacle. We also can ask God to show us what other practices of prayer, penance and almsgiving will lead us beyond our self-reliance and into deeper dependence on his love. 

With these directions in mind, remember to pack lightly. Sometimes less is more. We don’t need to overload ourselves to prove a point. With God’s fatherly care and direction, we can identify, pay attention to and seek to move beyond whatever hinders our progress. 

The goal of Lent should not be a greater confidence in ourselves, but a greater confidence in God.

During these holy days of Lent, it is my prayer that Jesus gives each of you the grace to move beyond the obstacles that keep you from fully enjoying his love. I will pray for you, and please pray for me.