The Holy Season of Lent

The Holy Season of Lent is associated with the Passion and Death of Jesus, thus giving it a sorrowful tinge. Indeed this is so, but this sorrow should in no way obscure the Graces which Lent bestows on us. According to the Liturgy of the Church, Lent is a race filled - season, provided we avail ourselves of this Spiritual Treasure.

To be entitled to these graces, we should intensify to our prayer life, indulge in penance, resort to fasting and Abstinence and be generous in giving alms. All these practices go hand in hand and should not be practiced in isolation. To begin with we should intencify our prayer life during Lent. The Eucharist takes pride of place and as such we need to frequent Holy Mass during the entire period of Lent. Practices such as the Way of the Cross and and pilgrimage to religious shrines need to be encourage. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, spending sometime with the Lord is an excellent practice, if followed throughout Lent. Praying the Rosary with the Sorrowful Mysteries will certainly enhance the Spiritual flavour of our Lenten Prayer Life.

Penance - In the form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will certainly enrich us provided we humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father, who is, always waiting with open arms to forgive the repentant sinner - Ez : 18  - 21. This then is an excellent channel of receiving God's grace. Besides simple practices such as abstaining from meat on certain days, forgiving your enemy and all those who may have hurt you, abstaining from alcohol, smoking and other activities will certainly draw us closer to God and His unfathomable mercy.

Fasting - is an essential, ingredient of Lent. In the distant past Catholics fasted for forty days throughout Lent. Now this is reduced to just two days. So is abstinence from meat. Our elders, relating stories of bygone days remind us of how on the day prior to Ash Wednesday, late in the evening,  every household would be heard scrubbing earthenware chutty-pots in which meat was normally cooked, after which these would be cast aside until Easter Sunday. At the Divine Retreat Centre in Chalakudy in the South Indian State at Kerala, all weekly Retreats observe Thursday as a day of Fasting and Penance. During this lent, if only an attempt is made for fasting on Friday, this would certainly please the Lord. If so, when Easter dawns, we would be convinced, of having spent a Lenten season, filled with Divine graces.

Looking back at Lent in Sri Lanka in years gone by it is sad to note that many of our age old cultural practices now seem to be gradually ebbing out. Late as though it may be, we should resurrect them. One such practice is the chanting of Pasan (Passion) to musical notation, introduced by St. Joseph Vas and put into effect by Fr. Jacome Gonsalves, the father of modern Catholic Literature. During Lent in past years, it was a common practice for every Catholic family to gather together in front of their respective homes after sunset and commence chanting, Pasan. This chanting was continued from house to house with almost every house responding and all joining in chanting the chorus. This went on till dinner throughout Lent and thi chanting would conclude by singing that classic of Fr. Jacome Gonsalves "Daya Wenawa Sunde" with all houses joining in the singing. It is sad to note that this practice is gradually fading away except in a handful of villages in the Chilaw Diocese and in the village of Wahacotte in the Kandy Diocese. Catholic Sri Lanka, should strive to get back to this age old tradition in keeping with the spirit of Lent.

Another Lenten practice is that of staging Passion Plays, also introduced by St. Joseph Vas and carried forward by Fr. Jacome Gonsalves. These were modelled on the Passion Plays enacted in Goa by the Portuguese. Life size statues of the suffering Saviour in standing pasture, scourged and crowned with thorns, probably introduced by Fr. Jacome Gonsalves, are to be seen to this day in the churches at Karthar Kovil, off Madhu, Parrappankandal, of Giant's tank and the Church Our Lady of Victories at Pesalai (Mannar). The statues used at the Passion Plays at Duwa and Negombo could also be attributed to the same period. However unlike Pasan these Passion Plays have come to stay in Sri Lanka. The Boralessa Passion Play of yesteryear, by the late Lawrence Perera, was by far, the best Passion Play ever staged in Sri Lanka.

Every adult and child living in Boralessa had a role to play as is the practice in the world renowned Passion Play in Oberrammergau, Germany. Today Passion Plays of repute are staged in Duwa, Negombo, Jaela, etc.

Alms giving - last but not the least is the practice of giving alms, especially to the poor. Almsgiving is an integral part of Lent. What we save in the form of fasting and abstinence should reach out to the needy, if not our fasting and abstinence become meaningless. "Fast by sharing your food with the hungry"(Isaiah 58 : 6 - 11).

As we enter Lent, it would be most appropriate if we could meditate on the Scriptural text "Dust thou art and unto dust you returneth" - Gen 3 : 19, bearing in mind the possibility, whether this would be our last Lent? In this backdrop let us spend this grace-filled Holy Season in the way the Lord wants it most pleasing to Him.

Shine

"While Peter was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: 'This is My Son, marked by My love, focus of My delight. Listen to Him' " - Matthew 17 : 5

Who delights me? Whom do I delight? In various seasons of life, I probably answer these questions differently. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for all sorts of things! In youth, my delight is in romantic ideals of love: the girlfriend, the bride, the unrequited passion of a celebrity poster in a dorm room. Later, my delight may be in the long familiar face of a spouse, favourite sister, or friend I have known since grammar school. The face of delight may belong to a child or grandchildren. If I am a mystic, the face of delight may be the beatific vision of God, the Madonna, or the saints who chat with me in privileged communion.

While Peter babbles about clinging to the privileged encounters on Transfiguration mountain, 
he nearly misses the main event. While he and James and John are transfixed by by the revealed glory of a friend they thought they knew, heaven is also gazing at the same face. Heaven knows Jesus as He always is and that celestial view is momentarily shared with these bewildered friends.

The love of God marks the one who receives and acknowledges it. Being the focus of God's delight and knowing it makes every saint radiant - which is where the idea of the halo comes from. It is why Moses came down from Sinai with a face so shiny he had to wear a veil. It is why our Lady of Guadalupe wears a full-body halo: Blessed among women, Mary gave herself up body and soul to be God's delight. When we know we are the recipient of God's love, it is impossible to hide it.

When we meet a real live saints and there some, walking around right now in places we may not expect we will know him or her by the glow. When you and I accept that we are also God's great delight, marked by that same love, we will shine too.

Lord is it true? Do You really love me that much? I am surprised I want to ask why. Because You know me better than anyone. But You also know who I can become, with enough time and grace.

Jesus' Final Hours

In the first sermons Jesus preached to the Jews, who were His own people, He spoke of the same God they worshipped in the mosaic faith, whose Son He said He was. The Gospel He preached was a great source of light to those who lived in darkness. Many rejected His Gospel as it was not harmony with the Masonic faith they followed. They disbelieved that He was the Son of God and failed to see in Him the divine character He truly had. To them He was an ordinary human being not deserving of the recognition His faithful followers gave Him.

At that time, Jesus knew that He had come to the most critical and crucial phase of His life. His earthly life, besides His mission, was of no importance to Him, as He did not have a yearning to adapt Himself to worldly delight. But He was content that He had the desire to accomplish His divine mission during His lifetime which He expected to be short. He predicted His own death several times, as He was certain that He had to offer His life as a worthy ransom to save humans from sin. As time passed, He could only imagine that He was getting closer to a dreadful climax in His life. In that foreboding, a premonition of death unceasingly haunted His mind.

By then Jesus had a large following but His enemies were greater in strength. They made several attempts to kill Him, but He escaped deaths. Later it was the priests of the Masonic faith and the leaders of His community who plotted to have Him put to death. They decided that He should be taken by surprise after the Passover which was approaching so that they could have Him killed within the law, without causing an uproar among the people when it was done.

The day Jesus dreaded had come but not yet gone. When it was evening, He sat at table with His twelve Apostles for the Passover meal, as prearranged in a house in Jerusalem. While they were eating, He said "Truly, I say to you; one of you will betray me." They were deeply saddened and each of them asked Him in turn "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?" Replying only to Judas, He said, "You have said it." Judas then left the room in guilt. Offering them bread and wine eerie setting. In that part of the Garden, He was in the company of His chosen Apostles, Peter, James and John. As His safety was imperilled, He said in fear and grief "My soul is filled with sorrow even to death. Remain here and stay awake with Me", hoping that their presence would mitigate His anguish. But the trauma of the cruelties that would be imposed on Him by His enemies, ending with death, crossed His mind, making Him feel helpless and miserable. Moving a little away from them, He fell on His face and prayed to His Father to ease His suffering if it was His will, while not compromising on His obligation to save mankind. In His state of unbearable fear, large drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground.

Just then, Judas arrived in the Garden with a group of men who were armed with swords and staves in search of Jesus. On seeing Him with His Apostles, he greeted Him with a kiss to reflect on His identity. The men quickly seized Him and led Him away to the Jewish authorities to face legal procedures.

The Jewish authorities falsely convicted Jesus of blasphemy for calling Himself the Son of God and also of being a rebel against the Roman State for saying that He was the King of the Jews. The following morning, Governor Pilate to whom He was taken, had Him scourged by his soldiers. The lethal whips they used made a stinging impact on His body which caused severe bleeding and weakened Him. In their prejudice, they crowned Him with thorns and showed no restraint in ridiculing and hurting Him. After they had dealt with Him, they took Him away to Mount Calvary where they crucified Him. Blood flowed profusely from His pierced hands and feet. The chief priests and scribes mocking at Him asked Him to come down from the cross and save Himself if He was the Son of God.

Jesus died a few hours later. Jesus' Mother, Apostle John and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. To His Mother, it was the death of a loving Son. To Apostle John, it was the death of a beloved Master. To Mary Magdalene, it was the death of a gracious Man who saved her from death by stoning.

Total darkness prevailes over the region from midday lasting three hours, caused by an unusual opacity of the sun. It was not a natural ecliptic phenomenon. The earth shook with a rumbling noise for a short duration. Weird sounds were heard as rocks around cracked. The priests in the Temple were shocked to see the torn curtain in the Temple. These were heavenly responses to the death of the Son of God which, at that moment, opened the way for humans to a relationship with God.

The Captain in charge of the crucifixion said in fear and wonder, "Truly He was a Son of God"

Lent is a time to start breathing again

The words of the Prophet Joel, from the first Reading: "Return to me with all your heart! Return to the Lord!" These words, apply to everyone, and exclude no one; we all want to return to the merciful heart of the Father.

Lent, is a path that leads to the triumph of mercy over all that would crush us or reduce us to something unworthy of our dignity as God's children. The mark of ashes, received during the ceremony, reminds us of our origins, that we are dust - but, it also reminds us that God breathed life into each of us. The breath of God's life, saves us from the asphyxia that dampens our faith, cools our charity, and strangles every hope.

Lent is a time for saying no: No to spiritual asphyxia caused by indifference; no to the toxic pollution of empty and meaningless words, no to a prayer that soothes our conscience, an almsgiving that leaves us selfsatisfied, a fasting that makes us feel good, no to all forms of exclusion.

But Lent is also a time for remembering, a time to reflect and ask ourselves what we would be if God had closed His doors to us. It is a time, too, to ask where we would be without so many people who have helped us along our journey.

Lent is a time to start breathing again. The time to open our hearts to the breath of the One capable of turning our dust to humanity.

Do we read the Bible as often as we check our iPad?

If we want to fight against the temptation of sin, we must be familiar with the Word of God - treating the Bible more like how we treat our iPad.

During the forty days of Lent, as Christians we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and address the spiritual battle against evil with the power of the Word of God. For this we have to become familiar with the Bible, read it often, meditate on it, as similate it.

Someone said: What would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our iPad? If we always carried it with us; or at least the small pocket-sized Gospel, what would happen?

We forget our iPad - oh! We do not have it, we go back to look for it; If we read the messages of God contained in the Bible as we read the messages of the iPad.

The temptation of Jesus in the desert by Satan, the episode comes at a spesific point, soon after Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River but before His public prosecution.

He has just received the solemn investiture: the Spirit of God descended upon Him, the Father from Heaven declared him 'My beloved Son'. Jesus is now ready to begin his mission.

But first He must go up against the Enemy, Satan, who presents Him with three temptations. By means of this triple temptations, Satan wants to divert Jesus from the path of obedience and humiliation - because he knows that in this way evil will be defeated.

But the Word of God is like a shield against the poisonous arrows of the devil. Jesus doesn't use just any words - he uses the words of God, and in this way, the Son, full of the Holy Spirit, emerges victorious from the desert.

This is what we must do against the temptations of the devil. The comparison between the Bible and our iPad is strange, but sobering.

In effect, if we had the Word of God always in our heart, no temptation could turn us away from God and no obstacle could deflect us from the path of goodness. We would know how to win against the daily temptations within and around us.

We would be better able to live a resurrected like in the Spirit, accepting and loving our brothers, especially the most vulnerable and needy and even our enemies.

Let us ask the virgin Mary, the perfect icon of obedience to God and of unconditional trust to His will, to help us to listen the Word of God in the Bible and to make a real change of heart.

And please, do not forget - do not forget! - What would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our iPad. Think about this: the Bible always with us, close to us!

Comparing

"What do you think? My brother's daughter got seven distinctions in the School exam while my son failed in Maths. The whole family is talking about it and my son feels so downhearted," said Myrna.

"Why are you letting your family put your son down? All comparisons are odious and your son can peacefully repeat the exam if you encourage him. Just tell your son that you love him whether he passes or fails. Exams are not the be-all and end-all of life," commented Raika.

"You are a wise teacher and you understand. Why don't you speak to my son and make him feel better?" suggested Myrna, adding, "My daughter Jessica also feels that people compare her to her mother. I won a Beauty Contest when I was young and Jessica feels that she is ugly since she looks like her father who is dark and not handsome. I have told Jessica that Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder and that I consider my husband good looking and that is what counts."

"I know. People are thoughtless and they just say whatever comes in their heads. Tell your daughter that she must try to be considerate towards others and that being a nice person is more important than having a pretty face," said Raika.

"I think the fault lies in Fairy. Tales which children are exposed to at an impressionable age. The pretty princess and the handsome prince fall in love and get married and live happily ever after. So ordinary people also feel that one must be good looking to get married and be happy. They are also jealous of those who are good looking," said Myrna.

"Let us pray for everyone to be nice to each other and not compare or compete," said Raika.

A Short Way of the Cross

We can meditate on these stations during our free time, whereever we are - be it office, school or home. These stations will help us to remember Jesus and His passion amidst our busy schedules.

1. First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death.

We may have been condemned by others for no fault of ours. We may have been hurt. We may be unwanted and lonely in this world. We may be a burden for others. Let us give all those painful moments over to the Lord.

2. Second Station: Jesus Carries the Cross.

Let us remember the times when He had to carry our cross in the form of sin, sickness, pain, worry, despair, loneliness, guilt, loss of loved ones, financial problems and so on. As Jesus bore the Cross with patience, let us be patient with our cross and look forward towards greater glory.

3. Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time.

Let us remember the first time when we gave into temptation and sinned. We fell into sin and moved away from God. Let us repent and ask Jesus for His forgiveness.

4. Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother.

Let us remember our Heavenly Mother who gave birth to Jesus Christ and raised Him on this earth. Let us believe in our Heavenly Mother's powerful intercession. Mother Mary can intercede for us and obtain all graces we need in our lives. Let Mother Mary be our comfort and strength during this earthly journey.

5. Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross.

When we were burdened with our cross, when the cross was too heavy for us to carry, Jesus would have sent someone into our lives to help us carry the cross. It may have been your spouse, your parents, your children, your parents or even a stranger. Jesus would never abandon us. Let us thank Jesus for all these people who gave us hope.

6. Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.

Let us remember our family members and friends who were there with us, to comfort us during the most painful times of our lives. Let us pray for them, for all the times they comforted us and brought back faith to our lives.

7. Seventh Station: Jesus Falls for the Second Time.

We often feel sorry and repent for our sins. We again fall into temptation and then forget everything pretty soon. We go back to our sinful lives, falling into even more greater sins. Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord and be truly repentant and sorry. Let us strive not to keep committing the same sins over and over.

8. Eight Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem.

Let us be compassionate and merciful to the people around us. Let us open our eyes to the people suffering in this world. As Jesus conforted the women of Jerusalem, let us have mercy on those in distress. Let our hearts reach out to the sinners and the people who yet do not know Jesus.

9. Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time.

Let this be the last time we sin. Let us make our hearts strong and pray to Jesus for strength to fight the temptations of Satan. Let us become closer to God, through Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving.

10. Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Clothes.

Surrender all those moments in your life which you wish had never ever happened and want to forget forever. It may have been a moment of great embarrasment or great shame. It may be a moment when somebody insulted you or hurt you deeply. When Jesus was stripped of His clothes, He was ashamed and hurt, but He bore everything for our sins. Let us invite Jesus to heal our wounds and surrender all painful moments of our lives to Him.

11. Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.

Let us give up our sinful life. Let all our sins be nailed to the cross so that we can live a new life in Jesus. As Jesus endured unbearable pain while being nailed to the cross, let us bear our sorrows with patience and hold on to life.

12. Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross.

Let the Sinful Man in us die on the cross along with Jesus. Let us resolve to never sin again and avoid all temptation.

13. Thirteenth Station: The Body of Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.

Jesus, you died for our sins and
purchased for us the reward of eternal life. Let us always keep that in our minds  and live this life with hope.

14. Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb.

Let us look forward to the Eternal Life that Jesus has offered us by giving His own life as ransom. Let us pray to Jesus for the grace of a happy death.