Hi. Decided to reflect/blog on Lent this year. Perhaps it's due to all the mini [and at times major] crises in my life, and that of our family and extended love network. Or perhaps it's about the times we live in, which seem scarier each day.
Or perhaps the will of God is tugging me so hard right now; and my response is deeper meditation on His word, His intentions for my life that reflection during Lent is in complete alignment with what I've been doing lately.
The theme for this Lent reflection is suffering and love.
Campbell talks often about the need to embrace suffering; as he says "joyfully participate in the suffering of the world". Both Hindu and Buddhist teaching talk about there being neither suffering or non-suffering; that it's all one or from a common source, to achieve enlightenment is to understand this. My Christ faith journey leads me toward a similar path; but not without a struggle to recognize the self, the desire for comfort [if not pleasure] in my life and thus the conflict with anything that is not comfort [or pleasure]. Yet in moving away from self as the orientation for faith and it's perfection of my life; there comes an instant connection with the souls of all who suffer - atONEment - with Christ.
Love is the support network for any suffering; can't tolerate or endure suffering without love. And yet love isn't an antidote to suffering; wouldn't expect love to take suffering away. Love is a healer in that it helps [at least me] get to atONEment with Christ and with all who suffer. And this is where healing finds it's perfection in my faith journey; to reconnect.
Catholics have a tradition of denial during Lent; to remove a temptation as we walk through the 40 day desert of the Lenten journey. I will try to remove dis-connection during this Lent; instead I want to reach out and joyfully participate. My Christ asks this of me; and thus far He has opened doors to take action [meditation is nice, but get out there and help someone].
con paz,
frank
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