Begin Again

     “Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.”       St. Francis de Sales



     We are smack in the middle of the fourth week of Lent. We may have started out strong with our Lenten resolutions and practices. At times, it almost seemed effortless! We were pleased and amazed with our sacrifices and mortifications, well aware that it was indeed the grace of God that made it appear so easy. Then it happened – we left the valley of ease and began to spiritually scale the challenging peaks of Mt. Everest! We realize we are not mountain climbers and wondered how we even arrived here. It was not part of our plan. Our route was all mapped out. So what changed?

     We forgot we were in the penitential season of Lent. A time, when the Church in Her wisdom, gives us a chance to really know ourselves: our strengths, as well as our weaknesses. It is a time when we get to exercise our spiritual muscles of self-restraint, or a better way to say it, say no to myself!

     Our self-will, with all its demands and needs, is very strong. It likes and expects to get its own way. It is like a spoiled child who screams and carry’s on till it is heard and catered to. We can thank God and His grace, if we haven’t heard too much from our self will until now. But Lent is a time where we especially want to grow in grace and virtue. We desire to show God just how much we love Him and what we are willing to do to ready our hearts, minds and souls to grow in relationship with Him. We cannot grow without admitting our own helplessness and dependence upon God. Mortification and sacrifice, help us to see ourselves as we truly are – God’s little children – who are completely dependent upon Him to overcome our weaknesses and our selfishness.

     It is not too late to begin again! It is not too late to pick up ourselves and journey these last weeks of Lent, begging God that we will be open to His graces, to overcome our selfish tendencies and rely upon Him completely.

     “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment” (Joel 2 – 12-13).

     God wants our WHOLE hearts. It’s really not the sacrifices that He craves. He wants us to rid ourselves of all that fills the place in our hearts which should be filled by Him. God wants us to be free to love Him completely. We cannot do that when our hearts are so full of so much that does not belong there. God wants to be the King of our hearts, and by mortifying ourselves from our inordinate attachments, we will give God the love and attention He so desires and deserves.

     Start afresh today! We still have several weeks before the great celebration of Easter. Take it one minute at a time. Picture an Easter basket in which you place all your sacrifices as gifts to the Lord. Let them accumulate, one by one. When you are tempted to give in to your desires to quit, pray to God for His help – He will not deny the grace to overcome yourself. When you are tired, weary and just want to indulge in your attachment, look at the crucifix. See His great love for you! Remember that Jesus has overcome and redeemed all. Claim your victory in Christ! He has obtained it for you. Walk in that grace, realizing that with God’s help, you can do it! 

     Pray to Our Lady – the perfect disciple and mother of us all – she will never deny her child in their time of need. She knows our weakness and imperfections, and will lift us up when we fall. Allow her to take you in her arms and pour balm into your wounded heart. Stay close to Mary. She will lead you into the heart of her Son, Jesus and will help you to become the person God has called you to be from all eternity.

     Lastly, have patience with yourself. God knows the time each one of us has left on his earthly journey. We will not become saints overnight, but with the grace of God and our cooperation, we can strive toward that end – beginning again, and again and again – as it was with all the saints who have gone before us!

     “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6: 1b-2).