The Liturgical Season of Lent – A time of Reflection

Last Wednesday 22^nd February was Ash Wednesday. This event marked the beginning of Lent. On this day, staff and students gathered in a liturgy to receive the ashes as a symbol of commitment in preparing for the new life we hope to find in God.

Lent is a time of reflection that reminds us of the story of Jesus wandering in the desert for 40 days. It is a time of recognising that all we have is a gift from God and we prepare for the coming of Christ on Easter Sunday.

This season of sacrifice and reflection is also a time to recall that we are part of a global community. Charitable campaigns such as Project Compassion provide an opportunity to reach out to those in need.

In light of this, we hold in our hearts the people in Turkiye who continue to experience the devastation of a recent earthquake. We remember the suffering of the people in Ukraine who live with the constant threat of violence and destruction due to the ongoing war.

Below is an excerpt of Pope Francis’ message for us in this Lenten season:

Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to listen to what Jesus wants to tell them through the Scriptures and through others.

The pope recalled “the command that God the Father addresses to the disciples on Mount Tabor as they contemplate Jesus transfigured. The voice from the cloud says: ‘Listen to him.’”

“The first proposal, then, is very clear: We need to listen to Jesus,” he said. “Lent is a time of grace to the extent that we listen to him as he speaks to us.”

During this liturgical season,” he continued, “the Lord takes us with him to a place apart. While our ordinary commitments compel us to remain in our usual places and our often repetitive and sometimes boring routines, during Lent we are invited to ascend ‘a high mountain’ in the company of Jesus and to live a particular experience of spiritual discipline as God’s holy people.”

Pope Francis said one of the ways Jesus speaks to us is through the Word of God, which we can hear at Mass.

But if one cannot attend Mass during the week, it is a good idea to still read the daily readings of the liturgy, the pope encouraged.

“In addition to the Scriptures, the Lord speaks to us through our brothers and sisters, especially in the faces and the stories of those who are in need,” he added.

Francis’ second suggestion for Lent was to confront the difficulties of ordinary life remembering that Lent is a period that leads to Easter.

“Do not take refuge in a religiosity made up of extraordinary events and dramatic experiences, out of fear of facing reality and its daily struggles, its hardships and contradictions,” the pope said.

“The light that Jesus shows the disciples is an anticipation of Easter glory, and that must be the goal of our own journey, as we follow ‘him alone,’” he said. “Lent leads to Easter: the ‘retreat’ is not an end in itself, but a means of preparing us to experience the Lord’s passion and cross with faith, hope, and love, and thus to arrive at the resurrection.”

A Lenten Prayer

(taken form Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy)

Jesus, we recognise our own weaknesses,

and we know that only through your mercy

can we be merciful.

In time of trial,

In the midst of our daily work,

whenever we feel doubt or confusion,

enlighten and strengthen us

so that we may do your holy will.

May our deeds of mercy

express your mercy to a suffering world.

We make this prayer with gratitude

for your unfailing goodness to us.

Amen

Opening College Mass

An invitation is extended to parents, carers and families to join with students, staff and special guests from the diocese, to attend the Damascus Opening College Mass.

Bishop Paul Bird will be the celebrant for this special occasion. The Mass will be on Friday 10 March, beginning at 11:30 am. The venue will be the John Shannon Centre at the college.

All are welcome.