Change your life, not just your clothes.
Come back to God, your God.
And here’s why: God is kind and merciful.
He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,
This most patient God, extravagant in love,
Always ready to cancel catastrophe.
Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now,
Maybe he’ll turn around and show pity.
Maybe, when all’s said and done,
There’ll be blessings full and robust for your God.
~ Joel 2:13-14 The Message
The first challenge of Lent is to open ourselves to life. When we “rend our hearts” we break them open to things we may have blocked in the past. There might have been days, months or even years we have allowed to turn to dust. We may have lacked the effort to attend mass, meditate in the morning, or to curiously explore something new. Have you neglected reconciling with family or friends who you have hurt or have hurt you? Have you failed to repent harsh comments or abrasive judgements made in haste? What have you allowed to die but failed to substitute with something more lifegiving, healthier and more sustainable as a merciful act toward others, or even yourself?
In what ways might we have closed the ears of our hearts in ways that prevent us from living full and holy lives?
Lent is the time to let life in again, to rebuild the worlds we’ve allowed to become dusty. Lent is about becoming, and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now. Lent is a summons to live anew.
“Come back to God” is the heartfelt message of Lenten Mornings with Mary Oliver, facilitated by beloved spiritual director and prayer guide Esther Yff-Prins. Consider joining us for a couple of Saturday mornings during Lent. Together, we will seek to transform our burdens into blessings this Lenten season by opening the ears of our hearts and hearing what Scripture and poetry invite us to change.