A couple weeks ago I began writing a post all about Lent, because it is my favorite season in the Church. But as the world changed rapidly around us, I felt like my post for this week should focus on something a little different. For my Catholic brothers and sisters, this Lent I am sure is very different than other Lenten seasons you have experienced in your lifetime. It may seem as if we have been thrust into the desert in a whole new way.
Before in-person classes and meetings were cancelled and life shifted online, the word metanoia kept coming to mind. I would sit in the pew on Sunday listening to the priest's homily and his words always seemed to speak back to the call to metanoia. The word metanoia means conversion of the heart and as many of us know this is not a one and done event in our lives. If we do not spend time in prayer or remain attentive to our thoughts and desires it is very easy for us to develop a hardened heart again. It is part of our human condition to focus on the darkness in the world rather than rejoice in the light. For that very reason we have to lean in to the Father, especially in times like these, because sometimes he is the only one that we can rest in and trust.
I was reading Mark chapter 6 the other day where Jesus walks on the sea, and something really stood out to me as I read it. The disciples were on a boat at sea and scripture says "He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost and called out" (Mark 6:48-49, RSV). Jesus saw they were distressed and began walking to them, but only when they called out to Him did He finally go to them. He was prepared to keep on walking. How many times was Christ walking towards us and instead of turning to Him, calling His name, and trusting in Him, we chose to walk another away?
The last verse in that story Mark 6:52 says "for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened." Just prior to these events the disciples witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand with just five loaves and two fish, yet they were amazed that when they called out to Christ he came to them and calmed the sea. Where have you neglected to ask God for assistance because you failed to believe that Christ would be of any help to you? Has there been times when you felt God would not answer your prayer anyways, so you chose not to spend time in prayer?
Maybe you have noticed a change in your heart because of this season of life already, or maybe you are still waiting for God to speak into the silence or the storm you are currently facing in your life. What is important during this time that we are called to pause life for the sake of others, is that we spend some time in prayer with the Father. He is waiting for us with open arms all we have to do is take the time to bow our heads and converse with our Savior. Lean in to Him.
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