Lent which begins this Wednesday, is a time when we can examine ourselves and look to make a positive change of some sort. Father Trenton Van Reesch has outlined the meaning of Lent below and the prayer that follows on suggests some of the changes that you may like to focus on this Lent. It describes the fasting from various sinful ways and feasting on positive behaviours and ways of thinking and acting. There is always the opportunity to improve one’s life through making adjustments that will benefit you. Lent provides a time when we look to Christ and His sacrifice that he made for us his people. His shining example provides constant inspiration for us to improve our lives one small action at a time.
Father Chris Eaton, Youth Minister Noyal Saji, Haydon House Captain Noah Ellis, Charlie Nadin at Weekly Mass.
Lent Reflection
“Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday. It is a time when our attention is arrested once more, as we focus with a particular intensity upon what Jesus has done for us through his passion, death and so his Resurrection and Ascension – the Paschal Mystery. It is a season above all of contradiction. Light from darkness, hope from despair, and in its pinnacle the greatest contradiction– the life of the Resurrection from the Death of the Cross.
In Wednesday’s Gospel we’ll hear of ‘the hypocrites’, who wanted to be seen as someone they’re not, they turned not to Christ, but to themselves; and by refusing to accept their own weakness and tribulation, they refused to accept him. They were ‘perfect’ even trying to convince not just others but God Himself of this! The ashes we receive on this day are not a sign of our weakness, so much as a sign of our strength in Jesus – a sign of contradiction to a world that says you need to be your own strength and hope!
The prophet Isaiah depicts God as a Rock, against which many stumble and fall! Jesus confirms his identity by becoming that stumbling block through the Cross, and thus the true sign of contradiction – a Crucified Christ! In the contradiction of the Cross, Jesus remains that embodiment true hope, in a world that sees God as a constant limitation placed on our freedom – where we’re told to hide our weakness and wounds, where all that matters is our appearance before others. This Lent invites us, to allow our woundedness to stand out before God, to bring him those wounds and seek his mercy; for this becomes the place where God works. We must never forget that those wounds which were so bloody and grotesque on that Good Friday afternoon, were the same ones which on Easter Sunday… shone like the sun!”
Father Trenton van Reesch Administrator, St Christopher’s Cathedral Parish
Prayer- The Fast Life
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.
Blessed Edmund Rice…Pray for Us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever
https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/lent-prayers
Michael Monagle
Assistant Principal – Mission and Identity
Christus Lux Mea