Growing Tension and Excitement
At the end of a competition in which the result is not clear, there is a growing tension and excitement. It is “crunch time.” Even when the outcome is clear, there are deep emotions of joy, or disappointment. A game, or a life, or a process, or a season, or an academic course, or a career, or many other kinds of events and activities – when these activities are nearing their completion, usually we feel strong emotions.
I hope you are feeling some increased energy, even some tension. The days are drawing near. We are about to complete the season of Lent in order to begin The Three Days (Triduum) which culminates with EASTER! I pray that you are feeling some growing excitement. Holy Week is a week of conclusion which leads us to Easter, a new beginning. Easter is the day that best defines our life as Catholic Christians. Easter is the high point of the Church year. The Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, changed everything!
So, if we are experiencing some anxiety and tension, perhaps it is because we feel like we did not complete our goals. At the beginning of Lent, we were invited to fast, pray, and give alms for the sake of a closer relationship with God and others. Some people made other personal sacrifices and began spiritual practices in order to focus their lives on God in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. Marked by ashes nearly 40 days ago, we committed ourselves to live by the Good News of Jesus Christ who called us to repentance and forgiveness. Now, it is a time of evaluating. We must make an account of our accomplishments.
Remember, we did not give up sweets, or coffee, or meat on Fridays, or using our cell phones, etc., for their own sake. We did it in order to become more aware of God. We did not make sacrifices only, for example, to lose weight and form better personal disciplines. Those may be good outcomes, but we made these sacrifices in order to live a more Christ-like life. We did not form a set of Lenten practices in order to “score points” with God so that we could “win” a prize. We made these sacrifices so that we would be less selfish and more forgiving and to be holier. Holiness is bound together with health and happiness. God wants these for us. Happiness, health and holiness are what God wants for us!
Renewing our faith in eternal life and the Resurrection of the dead at the end of earthly time: believing and living by those truths have been, and remain, our great goals.
God forgives! Let us repent!
Peace, Fr. Andy