It’s hard to believe that Lent begins next week… It feels like the year is barely underway, and already it’s time to consider how best to approach our time in the penitential desert.
I have to admit, usually my preparation revolves almost exclusively around the question: “What am I giving up this year?” It’s an important practical question, certainly, and I do plan to devote some discernment time to answering it this weekend, but sometimes I think I start to view Lent as little more than a period of compartmentalized self-discipline.
So this year, in addition to the traditional sacrifices, I wanted to invite you to join me in taking a page out of the Benedictine rulebook. This year, let’s open up our Lenten journeys to the hallmark of community.
Of course, each one of us makes an individual journey through Lenten death to Easter resurrection, but we also walk together as the Body of Christ. We participate in Christ’s own life and death, part of which means helping our loved ones to carry their crosses, whether through our sacrifice and service or simply by being present to them in their need. Part of this also means accompanying each other in prayer, praying with as well as praying for one another.
Whatever form this takes in your life and your Lent – making time for a struggling friend, joining a family member in a particular devotion, praying together for a shared intention, or even gathering with a group to walk the Stations of the Cross each Friday – I hope you find a way to invite the graces of community into your Lent.
As a step toward this, each Friday during Lent I look forward to sharing with you two Stations of the Cross video reflections from the monks of Belmont Abbey. After all, taking a few minutes to join Abbot Placid, Fr. Elias, Br. Chrysostom, or Br. Leo in contemplation gives us the chance to journey with the monks and the whole Abbey community during this holy season.
As we prepare for the beginning of Lent in a few, short days, may Christ guide our footsteps and give us good companions along the way.
