It is countdown time - now only six days of Lent left - in less than one week we will begin the Triduum - the three holiest days of the liturgical year. In these final days of Lent we are very easily at the end of a successful Lenten experience - or - we are crying - where has the time gone - I have not even started yet. Reminder - do not be like the Pharisee in the temple - (Luke 18:9-14) - do not be so quick to pat yourself on the back - nor does one need to beat themselves - rather - be grateful for where you are at this moment. We are all individuals - our relationship with God is an individual one -not communal - although we walk together in community - each of us is walking our own path to Holiness - redemption. My journey will never be like yours - nor yours like mine. We all had a starting point - we all have a finishing point - they hopefully take all of us to the same destination.
When Jesus was walking to HIs Death - Resurrection - often had to take side steps - life came at Him from all directions - like anyone who sets out on a journey - never a completely straight path. Rocks in the path - roadblocks - unplanned events - happen to all of us. Our starting point may be - X - our goal - Z - but while on our own journey - Y - things always happen. That is the story of life. Each of us has our own story - no two stories identical. Everyone's journey has an X - Y - Z - never - ever the same. Does not mean one is better than another - just different. God has blessed each of us as we walk our journeys - Jesus is with each of us - constantly assisting us - especially on the diversions - those are what makes our journey so beautiful - meaningful - ours. So Lent ends soon - great - when that happens we transition on a new much shorter - three day experience - leading each of us to - Easter.
Deacon Dale
