In the Footsteps of Christ
Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week, we launched our Lenten Series, Soul Work, in preparation for Lent - those 40 days journeying towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday - and now we are already in the thick of it. Lent has begun.
One of the great Gospel themes is “the way,” for example: “And they followed him along the way.” So easy to read over those two words without a second thought! But when we hear in Acts (9:2, 22:4, 24:14), that the earliest Christians are followers of the Way, and when we recall that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6), the sure path that leads to the Father, we ought to pause and ponder. Those who walk with Jesus along the way, are seeking to follow Him, to base their lives on his teachings, and even to love according to his life-giving example. The way leads to the Cross and to the Father. And to this day, those searching for “the narrow way that leads to life” (Mt 7:14) continue on the same road.
Today we journey 40 days with Jesus into the desert (wilderness) to be tempted. The whole of Lent is this desert experience, putting away what is familiar & comfortable to seek to rely on God alone. The desert experience wears us down over time. A cross that can be easy to bear in the first week gains weight and power in the third and fourth week. Hence, one of the reasons - although not common practice, small, incremental changes can be made to bring about enduring and lasting change. This is part of the “be humble” strategy mentioned last week. Because it is at the end of the road, when we are tired and weary that the evil one comes to tempt us in the same strategy he used with our Lord (Lk 4:1-13).
Examples using food can help. Personally, I am not tempted to eat junk food in the morning, but the end of a long day, is when the temptation comes to indulge. Yet, we want this Lent to be about more than the usual ice cream, beer and whatever. We want to go deeper. So, getting beyond food to weightier things, you are probably more likely to judge, say a nasty word, cuss someone driving, not extend someone grace at the end of the day when you are tired. When we are weary, fatigued, stressed, or lonely we are more prone to falter. H.A.L.T. is a good moniker: hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Recognize these moments in your own life and… halt! Pause and be on your guard, for at these moments we are more likely to be tempted and fall into old ways. What is one thing for you that leads to a habit you want to break?
It is funny how sticky habits can be. It takes about 40 days to make a habit, and even then, it is fragile. When we are forming something new, an older stubborn habit can crowd out the new. Think of new habits like young plants in the garden that need extra attention, care, and nurturing. We need to prepare the ground if we want to succeed.
One helpful tactic we can employ to form a new habit is called habit chaining. This is the practice of linking a new habit with what is already in place. So, say you want to add 10 minutes of prayer into your evening routine. It could look like this: change into your PJs, make a cup of herbal tea, sit quietly in prayer with the Gospel, wash your face, brush your teeth, go to bed. These details matter and in fact more are needed (remember to be specific!) but in this example, you would be sandwiching a new habit into your night routine. Maybe it even starts with turning off the TV at a certain time. When we take the time to analyze our day, we find all kinds of routines, habits, and triggers. Things we do that are helpful or not. What is one routine in your life that you could use to build a new holy habit, do some soul work?
The Lenten desert experience allows us to detach from our common attachments/routines to remove some of the clutter of life in order to refine our life down to its more basic core and so be ready to more firmly attach to God. How is God inviting you to walk more closely with Him during this journey through the desert of Lent?
Peace & Blessings!
Fr. Joel
