Today is the first Sunday of Lent. I like to reflect on the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s suffering, dying, rising, and ascension. As I enter into these mysteries, I look at my own daily suffering, dying, rising and ascending. Life is not easy.
My faith is solid. Yet, as a mother of 3 grown children I am often disappointed in some of their choices: not attending mass, not enough sleep, drinking too much, lowering the bar with their relationships. My heart grows weary… Trying to staying healthy is a constant challenge: making time to exercise, more aches and pains, resisting eating on-the-go, moisturizing those wrinkles, flossing, getting a restful sleep, follow-up doctor visits. My body grows weary… Youth Ministry goes through cycles; what works well one year can flop the next! When seniors graduate, it takes time to rebuild leadership. I’ve invested lots of time planning an event only to have a poor turn-out. Snow days and scheduling problems and kids with bad attitudes. My spirit grows weary… My precious friends who I long to spend more time with. And my precious friends whose time ran out and I will never have a chance to spend another moment with. My soul grows weary…
I’ve had my share of wounds, some that have even scarred me for life. Yet, Christ is always there to wash my wounds and help me to rise again. For my brokenness leaves openings, so that Christ can slip through the cracks of my heart to expose the real beauty inside. And often the miracle happens in the breaking. Even Jesus experienced a breaking as he cried and died on the cross of a broken heart, asking “Why?”
These recent “Spring” days are a glimpse of hope and re-birth as nature comes back to life. Lent invites me to remember His suffering through my own darkness, pain and suffering. Just as Christ will rise, I too will rise with each new day.
In Christ,