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
