Lent reveals the quality of spiritual life

February 25, 2007 -- First Sunday of Lent

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What nourishes your spirit? 2. Is adoration a significant part of your faith life? 3. Do you feel safe and important in the Christian community?

Nourishment! Worship! Protection! At the start of this season of Lent, we might ponder three questions that, when answered, reveal something both about our self and our relationship to God. What is it that nourishes and gives us life? What do we adore and reverence on this human journey? Do we feel safe and protected from the forces of harm and violence?

L e n t
• Everyday People, Everyday Faith articles
• Other Lent articles

Nourishment! On the physical level, there are several key ingredients, such things as meat and potatoes, and sauerkraut. On the psychological level, we are nourished by affirmation and friendship and a good self-image. And, spiritually, it is prayer, fasting, and service that promote health in our relationship to God, our self, and others.

The Book of Deuteronomy records the promise of land flowing with milk and honey. The people in turn placed their basket before the altar as a symbol that they knew where all life and holiness came from. Jesus, too, though hungry, did not put His faith in turning stones into bread. His life was so much more than physical nourishment. It was a life lived in intimacy with the Father and He would not turn to any other source for full life.

Worship! Worship has to do with adoration, a looking at someone or something with reverential awe and dedication. We are given choices here. We can genuflect to power and domination, idolizing control over others. We can bow before glory and prestige and fame, asserting our egos as if they are the center of the universe. Jesus would have none of this. God alone is to be worshipped and adored and served.

During Lent, many Christians find the Stations of the Cross to be a fruitful spiritual exercise. By journeying with Jesus in His passion, we grow in our appreciation of our salvation in Christ and in gratitude for what God has done to save us. Our refrain in this exercise and a refrain that might well be a daily prayer is: "We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, because by the Holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world." Here is the object of our worship and adoration. Jesus, God become man!

Protection! A friend of mine keeps saying that there are two things that people need: to feel important and to feel safe. Are we under God's protection? The briefest of reflections reveals that we are all vulnerable and subject to harm from many quarters, be it terrorism, a car accident, some physical illness, or psychological hurt. We are tempted to ask God to exempt us from our human condition - lest we dash our foot against the stone. But we know that if we walk summer-barefoot and hit a raised piece of sidewalk, we are going to cry out in pain.

Yet, God does protect us. Moses tells how God heard the cry of the people, witnessed their affliction and toil and oppression. God brought the people out of Egypt. Their liberation led to the people bowing down in worship. Though we suffer human tragedies, God will liberate us from sin and death through the obedience of Jesus.

Nourishment! Worship! Protection! These are Lenten themes that deserve prayer. These are themes that spell out the quality of our spiritual life.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)