Friday, March 11, 2005
Lent
A lenten devotional by Sister Joan Chittister, entitled,"In the Light of the Messengers," discusses the Lenten journey in a new way that I love. She says,
"Lent is not a 'penetential season.' It is a growing season. It requires us to determine what is worth dying for in our own lives and what it may be necessary for us to become if we really want to live." She goes on to say, "Lent brings to mind the range of our own roaming, it makes us assess the heights to which we've climbed, the risks we've taken, the expense of the journey in energy and gain, and the value of growth for which we have expended ourselves."
I love thinking about Lent as a 'growing season' as opposed to a 'penetential season.' It changes the focus from a need to suffer, to a desire to grow closer to God, which always means leaving behind the parts of ourselves that stand in the way. It means moving towards God, and letting go of the harmful things in our lives. It means moving towards life and away from the things that might harm us.
Thank you, Sister Joan Chittister.
"Lent is not a 'penetential season.' It is a growing season. It requires us to determine what is worth dying for in our own lives and what it may be necessary for us to become if we really want to live." She goes on to say, "Lent brings to mind the range of our own roaming, it makes us assess the heights to which we've climbed, the risks we've taken, the expense of the journey in energy and gain, and the value of growth for which we have expended ourselves."
I love thinking about Lent as a 'growing season' as opposed to a 'penetential season.' It changes the focus from a need to suffer, to a desire to grow closer to God, which always means leaving behind the parts of ourselves that stand in the way. It means moving towards God, and letting go of the harmful things in our lives. It means moving towards life and away from the things that might harm us.
Thank you, Sister Joan Chittister.
# posted by SunnySue @ 10:08 AM 
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Welcome to the blogging world Susan! I haven't had a chance to post a comment here yet, because Lent has been incredibly busy.
I like the idea of Lent as a growing season. It makes sense to me that we need to grow -- to build up our spiritual strength and identity -- in order to prepare for THE story that we encounter in two short weeks.
Happy blogging!!
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I like the idea of Lent as a growing season. It makes sense to me that we need to grow -- to build up our spiritual strength and identity -- in order to prepare for THE story that we encounter in two short weeks.
Happy blogging!!
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