Montior Magazine Feb 2021 Lent feature section

From the Bishop

This Lent, ‘give God more time to speak to us’

T

he season of Lent has arrived, and with it the importance of prayer and penance become a special focus of our attention once again as we “journey to Jerusalem” with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Holy Father Pope Francis, in his “2021 Lenten Message,” asks us to spend these 40 penitential days of Lent “renewing our faith, hope and love.” Such Lenten renewal invites us to “fasting, prayer and almsgiving,” the traditional Lenten paths to conversion. I recommend that all Catholics take a few moments to read and reflect upon the Holy Father’s beautiful Lenten Message this year. As your Shepherd, I humbly offer you some simple thoughts for Lent. ON FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.

FAITH. The Letter to the Hebrews gives us a profound description of faith: “confident assurance concerning what we hope for and conviction about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).” Confidence and hope! Let’s make that disposition of faith our own this Lent, especially as we continue to face the A Message from COVID-19 pandemic. BISHOP DAVID M. HOPE. St. Paul wrote to the O’CONNELL, C.M. Ephesians: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (Ephesians 1:18).” Let’s open the “eyes of our heart” this Lent to see beyond the limits of this world to the glories that are ours in Christ and share that vision with one another. LOVE. Our Lord’s greatest command was/is that we “love one another.” This Lent, let’s remind ourselves, “greater love than this no one has, than to lay down one’s life for his/her friends ( John 15:13).” Let’s be willing to sacrifice for others.

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ON FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING.

FASTING. 800 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “Fasting will loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free and break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6).” This Lent, let our fasting create the empty space in our lives that only Christ can fill. PRAYER. No moments in my life are as important as those I spend with the Lord. Whether alone before the Lord ever-present in the Blessed Sacrament in the silence of my little chapel or in a parish church; whether quietly enjoying the beauties of nature and God’s creation; whether reciting the Rosary or reading the Word of God; whether celebrating Mass or praying with others, my prayer is fundamentally an act of faith in and thanksgiving for the presence of God in my life and in my world. This Lent, let’s give God more time to speak to us and give ourselves more time to listen. ALMSGIVING. The old saying rings true: “Don’t tell me that you love Continued on 6

February 2021    THE MONITOR MAGAZINE   5