“What most prevents us from becoming saints is undoubtedly the difficulty we have in consenting fully to everything that happens to us, not, as we have seen, in the sense of a fatalistic passivity, but n the sense of a trusting total abandonment into the hands of our Father God.”
~ Fr. Jacques Philippe: In the School of the Holy Spirit
Fr. Phillipe speaks about the reality that when we encounter trials we often rebel or bear them unwillingly. His solution is to accept God’s invitation to embrace a positive and fruitful attitude quoting St. Therese as a model: “I choose it all!” He says this means “I choose everything that God wants for me. I won’t content myself with merely enduring, but by a free act of my will; I decide to choose what I have not chosen”. The exterior reality does not change but ones interior attitude does and that makes a significant difference. “This consent”, says Fr. Philippe, “inspired by love and trust, makes us free and active instead of passive, and enables God to draw good out of everything that happens to us whether good or bad” (Pg. 34).
Come Holy Spirit assist me to respond to the grace you’ve given me to practice abandonment!
“It is not that I have already taken hold of it (the prize of eternal life) or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ (Jesus). Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3: 12-14
Give me some Attitude
Many people move into Lent not very excited about it. Oh, here comes another Lent where I feel guilty if I’m not sacrificing and giving up something. Someone just said to me the other day (when thinking about Ash Wednesday), “I hate fasting”.
As you move into Lent 2012 how can this time truly be a “new springtime” for your spiritual life? As catechists and disciples of Christ how is Christ calling you to grow? St. Augustine once said that moderation is more challenging/difficult than total abstinence (fasting). I think that is true. Maybe this lent it’s about the little things instead of the big things. Maybe it’s about 5 or 10 minutes of prayer time instead of deciding to do a half an hour to an hour of prayer a day. Consider not eating dessert a few days during the week instead of giving up chocolate or candy all of lent but eating sugar cookies and carrot cake. Maybe it’s not looking at your cell phone between 6pm – 10pm so you can spend time with your family, serving others or praying. This is the kind of attitude St. Paul encouraged: “straining forward to what lies ahead” so you can grow in your “pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus”.
Encouraging students
Most religious education class or RCIA sessions during Lent are not all about the season. However, try to continually encourage and help your students remember that this is a time to really grow, renew our love for God, seek to love others and be aware of doing God’s will. This can be done by incorporating things into your opening and closing prayer as well as your particular topic of the day.
Be Saints
Our goal in life is to be with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one day in Heaven. Let us renew this Lent God’s call of holiness (for us to be saints). It is challenging and not always easy but with God’s help…all things are possible.
Here is a video reflection about Ash Wednesday and Lent being a time to choose God and be happy:
These posts aim to share about how all those in the ministry of catechesis can continue to pass on our beautiful Catholic Faith to children, parents, youth and adults. I pray that you find the posts helpful and encouraging!
Catechesis in the Third Millennium 