Awaited by the Father

Oh, Lent. It’s upon us again! I don’t know about you, but for most of my life, the approach and arrival of Lent has not exactly been a joyful occasion. It tends to bring with it a slight heaviness. However, this year has been different.

Recently, I was giving a talk at a retreat day and shared a story about my brother and

his little girl. A few years ago, while I was home visiting my family, I was playing in a park with my niece. All of the sudden her eyes grew wide and fastened themselves on something in the distance. When I turned to look, I saw my brother’s truck pulling into a spot across the street. My niece was so excited to see her dad that I had to hold her back from running out into the street. As soon as my brother had crossed the street and it was safe for me to let her go, I released my niece. She flew towards her dad, as fast as her little legs could carry her.

I’ll never forget the wide smile that appeared on my brother’s face. He knelt down, opened his arms wide, and waited joyfully to receive her. There was such freedom and loving abandon in the way she flung herself into his arms.

Watching this was, of course, deeply moving to me. And I realized that God the Father was speaking to me through it. He was waiting for me just like my brother had waited for his daughter. And He wanted me to run into His arms with the same joyful trust and love that my niece had.

This story gently resurfaced in my mind the day before Ash Wednesday this year. And as I pondered the beginning of Lent, I realized that I can enter in very beautifully if I hold this story in my heart. Yes, Lent involves self-denial, becoming more aware of our weaknesses, and being honest with God and ourselves about our sin.

But it’s not meant to remain there.

Lent is meant to be a springboard into the merciful arms of our Father. It’s as if He is kneeling down, arms open wide, yearning for us to come to Him! If I remember this, then Lent becomes a time of joyful austerity.

Only in relationship with God can we make any progress getting to the roots of our sins and growing in holiness. But how do we get there? A huge way is by carving out time to be with Him in prayer. There is no shortcut.

In the Office of Readings for Ash Wednesday, Pope St. Clement gives us a wonderful phrase from the Father. “Though your sins may stretch from earth to heaven…yet if you turn wholeheartedly to me and say ‘Father’, I will listen to you”.

How amazing that we have a God who is our loving Father. He wants nothing more than to welcome us home, into His heart. The practices of Lent (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) are meant to be pathways to greater intimacy with God. And as we abide with Him, we will naturally loosen our grip on our sins- which promise happiness and can never deliver- and come more to life as His beloved sons and daughters.

If that’s what Lent is all about, I’m ready! Let’s dive in together!

 

“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning…return to the Lord…for He is gracious and merciful…abounding in steadfast love” (Joel 2:12,13).

Sr. Thérèse, CFR