Lent E Retreat

“It must be emphasized again that far from giving us a false idea of reality, Christianity forces us to look it straight in the face and to see right into the terrible reality of evil in the world.  But it does not leave us with the spectacle.  It discloses to us “the stronger one,” the Creator of the world, by whom the world has been, as it were, invaded, and who has overcome the “strong,” the prince of this world:  the despotic power with which the forces of evil were crushing us.  Henceforth everything is changed.  What was impossible to our weakness has been accomplished by the strength of God, not only for, but in, our weakness.  We are called upon to defeat them.  The prospect reopened to us is that of a whole world regenerated in Christ, based on a humanity completely healed in body as well as soul.   For the joy of Easter, the joy of faith, is not just a spiritual joy; it is the joy of ht whole person, body and soul, and it is a cosmic joy. “                      -Louis Bouyer

 

Part of the call to us during Lent is to confront whatever within us and around us is calling out for healing, for redemption, for wholeness.  However, we don’t do that by fleeing our problems, or others, or this world.  A spirituality that tries to separate us from our bodies, or from these lives we live every day, is not one based in the gospels. 

In the gospels, Jesus comes to us as one of us – to share in our humanity.  We are therefore called to find God, and to bring God, into this world.  We begin with ourselves, and with our relationships.  We seek to bring God’s presence to broken relationships.  This doesn’t mean that all is going to be brought to a neat or clever conclusion.  It does mean that when we intentionally welcome Christ into what we are struggling with we can find him there.  

Our world is calling for this healing presence.  Look around you.  Read the newspaper or listen to or watch the news.  It begins with you, with me, with one person seeking to live a renewed and better life, based on the teachings of Jesus.  Invite him into your heart, your life.

Ask yourself: 

v  Of what area of my life is Jesus not yet Lord?

v  Where do I need to specifically invite the healing presence of Christ?

v  Where do I feel called to confront sin or evil in my life, in a relationship, in this world?

v  What am I willing to change so that Christ can more fully be alive in me and work through me?