TIME OUT FOR LENT
“Through the Gospels of February, and as Ordinary Time evolves into Lent, the Lucan Jesus will continue our training as disciples. In shared stories of Peter and company we learn that whatever good we do for God is powered by grace. Similarly, whatever weaknesses we have are opportunities through which we can allow God to rewrite our crooked storylines with the straight lines of justice and truth.
- Everyone Has a Story, Patricia Datchuck Sanchez and Rafael Sanchez Alonso

Although it is a disappointment to me and Jet fans throughout the area that the JETS did not make the Super Bowl, preparations for Super Bowl Sunday are still in order as this winter festivity is a terrific time to be together with family and friends in that the Super Bowl is a great excuse for a winter party. Most people who follow football know that one important facet in a football game is the two-minute warning. This occurs as a time out is called with two minutes remaining in either half of a football game so that a particular strategy may be implemented for the final minutes of playing time; therefore each team maintains a moment to reflect and rest for those final 120 seconds that often determines the difference between winning and losing. Today the church celebrates the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, which becomes the final two minutes of the Season of Ordinary Time that precedes the holy season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17. It is advantageous to use this time well so that preparations are made for Lent that become activated upon the beginning of the season. A spiritual “two minute warning” renders opportunity to take time out with thought to the goals of this Lent, which consists of prayer, almsgiving, and sacrifice that calls an individual to improve personal shortcomings as well as make better personal strengths. This prepares a person to put a plan into action in that it is so common for people of faith to rush into Lent without reflection that leads to mistake Lent for a season of self-congratulations due to accomplishments or sacrifice. The main thrust of Lent is to disarm Christians from complacency.

There is a story about a family who was startled in the middle of the night when the smoke detector in the house went off. The parents jumped up from bed, and shouted to their children to hurry out of the house. Once outside, the father and mother started counting and discovered that one child was missing; which is the worse fear of a parent. Looking up at the house the couple saw their son near the second floor window trapped by the flames. The father dropped to his knees praying that God would save his son; while the mother, a person of deep faith, but, a practical person ran to her neighbor’s garage, yanked a ladder from the garage wall, propped it up against the house, and rescued the boy from the flaming house. People often expect God to make them better throughout Lent by reciting repeated formulas of prayer and devotions; however, like the mother in the story, Lent is more than dropping to our knees in hope that God does the work. Lent requires ongoing determination, effort, patience, sacrifice, and a goal. Ash Wednesday invites believers to take a step away from spiritual complacency, and climb a ladder for forty days that rescues those who are without God in their lives, or in search of finding God. Ashes, a powerful symbol of humility and repentance, which is a sacramental in the church, get placed on the forehead of Catholics with the reminder that everyone is a bit different than a year ago; therefore, repeating past Lenten observances may take a believer up a ladder to a house that no longer exists, which prevents spiritual growth from taking place. Lent summons people to climb a ladder of opportunity so that there is awareness of personal shortcomings that are a natural and accepted part of life. The Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent always brings forth Jesus’ temptations in the desert. Temptations are wants for the “wrong things” or the want for something that a person is not suppose to have or take. In following the steps that Jesus did in resisting temptation, the Christian gains strength and builds self-discipline so that endurance is attained and good is accomplished. Perhaps the greatest temptation that people face in Lent is to do nothing, or to do the same thing that is done every Lent.

The early church envisioned Lent as a time that non-members prepared for “Baptism.” This concept challenges the faithful of today to work on faults and short-sightedness so that the renewal of Baptismal vows on Easter is recited in a state of readiness. The two minute warning prior to Lent permits the Christian to ponder a style of life that sees things in a Christ-like manner, which navigates a person toward greater closeness to God. Jesus maintained a balanced lifestyle that integrated prayer and sacrifice with human interaction; hence, Jesus recognized the proper time to be on his knees in prayers such as in the Garden called Gethsemani, and the proper moment to rescue those in houses burning with sickness, poverty, and sin. This makes Lent the fitting season to do as Jesus, and learn the greater meaning of his message to heal, forgive, love; and raise others to new life, which leads to a Super Bowl victory.

Jonathan Swift once stated that many people have enough religion to hate but not enough to love. Even though there are seventeen days to Lent, this Sunday sounds the two minute warning. As a lion’s share of football games are determined through the strategy and play during the final two minutes, take time to ripen your game plan for Lent, and prepare for this holy season. Work hard to transform any anger or hate to love. Lent thrusts forth unanticipated moments whereby the fire alarm goes off with God calling you to a burning building. The person who is ready for the season sees it as right-minded to grab a ladder from the neighbor’s garage and come to the rescue of someone in need; while the person who does not stop to reflect at the two minute warning wonders the reason for unanswered prayers.

In Christ's Love,
Fr. Bob