When I was young, Lent was a time of self denial only. It was about giving up candy and, during my teen years, cigarettes on Monday through Saturday. On Sunday (not technically a day of Lent), I would gorge myself with chocolate or chain smoke all day.
I recall sitting with my father at the kitchen table as we counted down the final minutes to Saturday - cigarette in mouth and lighter in hand. Then, as the second hand hit midnight, Dad and I would connect flame to cigarette - draw deeply and savor the smoke filling our lungs. It was Sunday, the Lord's Day of Rest, so a week of nicotine withdrawal, could be temporarily abated.
As I've grown in years and perhaps faith-maturity, I see Lent through different eyes. Less a time of self inflicted mortification, Lent has become a time that circumstances have seemed to lead me into a deeper revelation of the cost of discipleship.
Looking back on the last several years, I've noticed that Lent has frequently been a time of personal turmoil and self reflection. It has been a time when the darkness of winter has become fertile ground for festering interpersonal struggles.
But with struggle has come personal growth and redemption. God has sent unconditionally loving friends like my wife Pat, my spiritual director Deacon George Welch, supportive staff members, parishioners and wonderful new people into my life (people like our parish priest Fr. Peter Anglaare) to journey with me, refresh my spirit and rekindle my passion for ministry.
Within the next week, Lent will end and the paschal journey from suffering to death to resurrection will begin. Easter will be a time of great celebration liturgically - but for us the process of conversion will continue. Many of us will conclude our celebrations on April 9 and return (as did Jesus' disciples) to the upper room to wait in fear for the glorified Jesus to break through the walls and lead us to peace and eventually a new Pentecost.
If in these dwindling days of Lent you find yourself in need of reconciliation, you are not alone. Jesus is at work. He has not and will never leave us alone. I pray that supportive friends will also be at your
side - and that through them, you will experience God's embrace as you journey to new life.
Have a blessed week. Serve one another well.
Deacon Ray
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Over the years, God has blessed me with many wonderful opportunites to
minister. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon of the Diocese of
Rochester, New York, (ordained 1982), I have served in a wide variety
of ministries. Whether I am ministering to my parish, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, travel or retreat groups (e.g. Cursillo, Walk
to Emmaus, Koiniania, Pre Cana, Youth) - music has played an important
role in opening doors and hearts.
This website is an
extension of that ministry. Here you'll find the lyrics to many of my
prayer-songs and, if you like, purchase from a collection of CDs I've recorded.
There's also information about tours and pilgrimages that my wife Pat and I
occasionally host and links to web sites I've found interesting.
