Thoughts on Lent

7^th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)

                                                                                                           

Luke 6: 27-38

Lent begins in only ten days. Most of us are probably not planning what we will do for Lent, the Serious Season of our Church’s year. In fact, some us may even be in the midst of “carnival season,” looking forward to how we will soon celebrate Mardi Gras, the opposite of seriousness.

     What will we do to live our Catholic Faith more seriously during Lent? 

• Repent? We know we must turn to the Lord.
• Pray? We know that Lent should be a time of greater prayer.
• Penance? Sorrow for our sins and acts of self-denial are essential for Lent.
• Charity? We know that we always need to grow more charitable in thought, word, and deed.

     Upon reflection we know how far short we fall from what we should be. We know we need to follow Christ more closely. But how do we do it? How can we change? How can we become more Christ-like?

           Today’s Gospel is taken from the Sermon on the Plain, Luke’s version of Matthew’s Sermon

on the Mount. As I read this Gospel, I see a very specific (and very difficult) plan for Lent. Here are

“Ten Commandments” for repentance and spiritual renewal. We might call them the “Lenten Ten Commandments.”

The Lenten Ten Commandments or The Call to a Higher Standard

1       Love your enemies (Practice a love that is not only an emotion, but willing, wanting, working for the good of the other.)

2       Do good to those who hate you (This is really the way to “love enemies.”)

3       Bless those who curse you (Ask God to look favorably on those who have not been favorable to you.)

4       Pray for those who treat you badly (Learn to pray sincerely for those who mistreat you.)

5       Give to those in need (Give whatever someone may need, even something very simple such as a kind word or encouragement, not expecting any repayment.)

6       Treat others as you would like them to treat you (Try to make the Golden Rule a habit of your behavior.)

7       Be compassionate (Remember that your Heavenly Father is always compassionate.)

8       Do not judge (Then you will not be judged.)

9       Do not condemn (Then you will not be condemned.)

10   Grant pardon (You will then be pardoned.)

What will be the result of following these Lenten Ten Commandments? We will become more and more like Jesus Himself, whom we are meant to imitate.

           These Lenten Ten Commandments are very difficult, much more difficult than the Ten Commandments

of the Old Testament covenant. It is difficult to live these Commandments because we must not simply change our actions, we must try to change our attitudes.

• We must try to be less egotistic, less selfish, less vengeful, less vindictive, less severe. 
• We must try to become less, so that God can become more in our lives.
• We must try to see others as God sees them.
• We must try to treat others as Jesus would treat them.

           

           If you really want a Lenten plan that can draw you closer to Christ, try – with the help of God – these Lenten Ten Commandments. And a practical way to try them is to read today’s Gospel each day this Lent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Fr. Don Saunders, S.J.