As we pursue our Lenten course, it would be well to remember the words of the Second Vatican Council: “In the various seasons of the year and in keeping with her traditional discipline, the Church completes the formation of the faithful by means of pious practices for soul and body, by instruction, prayer, and works of penance and mercy.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 105)

In this process of Christian formation, the privileged season of Lent plays a vital role. With its emphasis on the baptismal theme, it helps us to grow in our faith-conviction that, for us, “to live is Christ.” (Phil. 1:21) It reminds us of our baptismal call, “to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect,” (Mt. 5:48) by striving ever more earnestly to imitate Christ, who leads us to the Father. And, in urging us also to do penance lest we become separated from our Good Shepherd on our pilgrim way, Lent provides us with graced opportunities to follow Christ more closely.

Our Catholic tradition is deeply rooted in the cycles of nature. Long before Christ, our Jewish forebears commemorated the Passover, a springtime memorial celebration of the Exodus from Egypt, the passage of God’s chosen people from slavery to freedom.

It is no accident that during the spring of each year, the Church celebrates another Passover, the Savior’s death and resurrection — his passage through death to life. Through baptism we participate in Christ’s Passover and, in him, make our own journey from slavery to freedom, from sin and death to life in the Lord. This central mystery of our Catholic faith is renewed and deepened during Lent.

This passage through death to life, while radically accomplished for us by Christ, is not achieved in us once and for all. Rather, it is the process and endeavor of a lifetime. Letting go of sin, evil, and whatever prevents openness to God and others, that is the Passover journey today. And the season of Lent is the time to reflect on, and intensify, that journey, in preparation for the celebration of our new life in Christ at Easter.

Lent’s central theme is conversion, redirecting our lives according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This conversion requires surrendering what is evil or selfish in our lives (dying) and opening up to the Lord’s call (rising). The Church summons us, personally and communally, to spiritual growth and new life in the Lord Jesus, to a dying to self in order that, with the Easter Christ, we may rise as new and changed persons. It is a time to look carefully at our lives, to weigh our relationships with the Lord, with our families, friends, and others in general.

The Church beckons us to enter the Lenten desert, and to take only the necessities with us. Thus, this is a season of more intense prayer, fasting and self-denial, and almsgiving. Who among us is not in need of the purification, which comes from a humble person’s journey into the spiritually-rich desert? Our prayer might be: “Lord Jesus, as we walk with you, help us to be aware of your presence and love; help us to see you in each other. Teach us to love and accept one another. Grant that we might take our example from your ‘yes’ to the Father. Forgive our sins and failings, and enable us to grow in holiness.”

Many catechumens are preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. Others (candidates), who were previously baptized, are prepared to join the Church and receive Confirmation and Eucharist. They all journey with us for the first time and need the support of our prayers and good example. This Lent is made all the more expectant in knowing that, at our journey’s end, the catechumens will emerge from the spring of life-giving waters as children of God, while the candidates, brought to completion by the fulless of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, rise refreshed from the table of the Body and Blood of the Lord — all, together, members with us of the one Body of Christ. We, too, shall know the refreshing joy of having retraced our way to the baptismal waters, in which we were born again, renewing our life in the Lord and strengthening our commitment to his Way.

Let us, therefore, eagerly receive the graces and opportunities of this holy season. “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” (Joel 2:12-13)

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