“Half-Time” in Lent

I am authoring this article the Monday after the Superbowl. If you watched the game, you saw the San Francisco 49ers pretty much dominating the field, outplaying, outscoring, and forcing turnovers by the stunned and frustrated Kansas City Chiefs team. If it were not for wanting to see the much-hyped commercials, I would suspect that many of the Chiefs’ fans would have just turned off their TVs, so they would not witness the carnage to their beloved team.

At half-time, while Usher was entertaining the crowd in the bleachers, each of the teams went into their locker rooms for some much-needed rest and a “pep talk” by their coaching staff. I suspect that the conversation in the Chief’s locker room was very different than the one in the 49ers’ locker room. The 49ers probably were praised for the aggressive way that they were playing and were told to keep with the game plan and soon the Lombardi trophy would be theirs. In the Kansas City locker room, the conversation was probably a little more spirited. Coach Andy Reid probably suggested they make a few changes in their game plan. He likely reminded the players that they had been underdogs throughout the entire playoff season and had been behind in games before. I’m sure he “encouraged”, in the gentle way that any successful coach does, to have faith in their abilities and to stick to what they do best.

We saw a completely different team in the second half of the game. After an initial setback, which led to a 49ers score, the Chiefs changed the course of the game with their aggressive play under the skillful leadership of Quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The game ended in a 17 – 17 tie, which necessitated an overtime period, and in the end, the Kansas City Chiefs won the game and were awarded the Vince Lombardi trophy.

So, what does all of this football talk have to do with Lent? Well, it dawned on me that about the time that you are reading this it will be close to the half-time of Lent. And as one of your spiritual coaches here at Sacred Heart, I thought that it would be good to reflect on how well your Lenten game plan is going.

But it’s kind of a trick question. To ask someone how their Lent is going assumes, at least implicitly, that Lent is mainly about their own plans and goals. But in fact, Lent is not something that we “do.” Rather, it’s something that we enter into and live through. It is a liturgical season that we didn’t invent (the Holy Spirit did) and that we can’t simply manipulate in accordance with some preconceived, self-help priorities.

A better way to think about Lent then could be summed up in this question: “What is the Lord doing in your life this Lent? And how are you responding?” Now that would really be a great conversation starter!

Lent has a spiritual purpose. It is a time of discipline and prayer designed to help us tune into the message of love and grace that the Church celebrates each year through the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. Through our Lenten disciplines, we cut away things that may be hindering us from hearing and heeding God’s word in our lives – the word that brings his love and grace. Through prayer, we listen to and savor whatever the Lord may be saying. That’s the essence of Lent.

So, what is the Lord doing in your life this Lent? As “coaches,” it is our hope and prayer that He is doing a lot! And if you feel like you need some help detecting the answer to that question, never fear! Lent has plenty of time left. As your coaches, our desire is for your relationship with God to go deeper. If that happens, then you will find all the light and strength you need to fulfill your mission in the Church and the world.

May this Lent be a privileged time for that great adventure to continue to unfold.

God Bless,

Deacon Mike