Lent 2012
As we begin the Season of Lent today, I
would like to take the opportunity to share some thoughts about this reflective
season and how it can enhance our journey as Benedictines. I will tell you up front that the approach is
rather unorthodox but one that I believe will lead us to a greater sensitivity
to God’s presence in our daily life.
During Lent most of us participate in
the usual life survey making note of all of the bad things we have done and how
we are miserable people unworthy of God’s love.
We make promises to better ourselves showing our conviction for
repentance through prayer, fasting and “giving up things.” While these are not necessarily bad in and of
themselves, doing only those things will generally lead to failure and a stronger
sense of guilt. So I propose that we put
aside these practices of a well indoctrinated Christian and move toward the
spiritual sense of the season; connecting with God through each other and our
surroundings.
Many who embrace monastic spirituality have
the mistaken sense that to live in communion with God and others we must shut
ourselves away. When we disconnect
ourselves with the world we become rambling automatons who go through life in a
constant state of “seeking”. However, that
which we seek is right in front of us each and every day. God is present to us in our homes, our work,
our community and nature. So we “seek”
at the same time we stumble over the very thing we are chasing. So why can’t we see it, especially when we
are so focused on the season of discernment?
Some of the practices I mentioned
earlier of prayer, fasting and such become a distraction. We become so involved in doing the deed that
we miss the opportunity to experience.
We try to obtain perfection through practices, yet I propose that God is
not looking for perfect subjects, but those who will participate in being
perfected. Only God can do this through
an intimate experience. The experience
of God in and through our present situation is where we begin the process of
being perfected. Those daily experiences
are of such beauty that we should not miss one single opportunity. So what then shall we do?
First, if you want to give up something
for lent, give up empty practices. Next,
take every opportunity to find the Divine presence in every person or place you
find yourself. (If you can’t seem to
find the Divine presence where you are, look no further until you find
it!) Lastly, embrace the Rule for what
it is; a journey for becoming perfected.
Practice humility, love and charity in all things as Benedict
prescribed. In essence, it is the
process of becoming saintly. Just
remember, the saints did not become saints because they did extraordinary or
miraculous things. Rather, they did
ordinary things very well.
If we can accomplish this with
sincerity, then I believe that this Lent will be one of enormous growth for all
of us.
Abbot Terry
