Friday arrives after a quick week with no shortage of news items to comment or reflect upon. This week was, for me, the official spring break away from work. Thus, it passed quicker than most. I also took the liberty not to blog for a couple days—although, I must admit that part of my Lenten observance this year has been to resume blogging after a lengthy period away from regular posting. Indeed it's been inspiring and I plan to continue on a regular basis, though with a day off here and there.
As we move into Holy Week, I feel moved to consider the entire season of Lent in retrospect. If one might consider Lent to be a spiritual exercise, I would consider mine—though still looking forward to next week—to have been a success, at least in one or two aspects. As a convert, I have had to learn how to appreciate Lent—it didn't come to me at first. This year however, I think for the first time, Lent truly seemed to be the season of grace. Also, the idea of penance came home to me this year, and not so much individually though that's certainly part of it for all of us.
The news this week seemed to be the best example I can give. Here it is Lent and a story breaks—partly erroneous—that the Vatican has declared new mortal sins to be added to the old list of sins. Interestingly, much of the world gets the opportunity this year to reflect on sin whether or not they were anticipating it. Even as late as Thursday evening I was still finding new reports of the same story.
Among the many comments and so-called analysis I found a good bit of anti-Catholicism, both in the name of Christianity, as you will find by following this link, and in the name of godlessness, as you will find at this one. There were others as well, but I chose these two as examples because they represent the kinds of misinformation that show explicit opposition to Christ, one disguised as a pious criticism, and the other rather blatantly anti-Catholic.
However, look also at the other news this week—the kidnapping and killing of the Chaldean Archbishop especially. Look at it in comparison to those who would dare criticize the Church for bringing attention to the broader sense of sin. While I haven't looked closely at comments regarding Archbishop Rahho's death, I wouldn't be too surprised to see the haters and trolls lurking nearby. In this regard I consider Jesus' words from today's gospel to be most relevant, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?"
These words of course speak for themselves and they teach us an important lesson. We know that the Church must undergo persecution. Yet most of us also realize that we live in a time that is like no other in history. The fact that I, a simple deacon and schoolteacher from Texas, can post my words for practically anyone in the world to read is proof of that. We live in a time of great change, great happenings, and of great sorrow also—the worst of which I fear has not yet come.
However, there is a certain hope, which comes about from reflecting on sin. What comes to mind is that at each Mass, at the Penitential Rite, we reflect both on sin and on God's mercy toward us. Furthermore, in the rhythm of the liturgical year the season of penance is followed by the joy of Easter. The reflection and consideration of sin is conjoined by necessity, where there is contrition, with the experience of mercy and grace.
Perhaps it's merely coincidental that something came up in the news that brought the idea of sin from the perspective of globalization to us. Perhaps it's a fluke that as this Lent draws to a close the entire world gets a wake-up call on the broader implications of sin. Nevertheless, I'm looking now for that which follows the reflection on sin—the proclamation, even the realization, of mercy and forgiveness.
Indeed there has been a lot in the news this week—everything from Trinitarian baptism to the Templeton Prize. Catholicism has been getting a lot of attention lately, and as Easter approaches there will be more. It's a good time to be in prayer—rather than thinking of Lent as having been successful, it may be better to think of it as being fruitful. At least in terms of news there has been no shortage.
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