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February 25, 2023As I sat down to write this article, the song Hosea came on my playlist. “Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart.” What beautiful words for us to begin this Lenten season: “Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart.” That truly is what Lent is all about, renewing our relationship with the Almighty.
The season of Lent is a time for us to slow down, take account of where we’ve been on our spiritual journey over this past year, and to focus on to where it is we want to go, recommitting ourselves to following Jesus more closely.
Over these next 40 days, we are invited to repent by doing three things – praying, fasting, and the doing good works. The word repentance simply means changing ourselves for the better. We don’t have to relive every mistake that we’ve made in life over and over. In God’s love we are forgiven, we are healed, we are made whole. Repenting is turning around and moving forward.
As a parish community, we have an opportunity for the doing of good works by feeding and caring for those in need. Once again, we will be collecting food items and toiletries for CrossRoads in Detroit. Each week when you come to church, you can bring nonperishable food items or toiletries and place them in the baskets located near the Holy Family statue. At the end of Lent, all of the items collected will be put into the hands of people in need.
I am grateful for the opportunity to journey through another Lenten season with you. Together, let us commit to spending more time in prayer, doing acts of kindness and charity, and fasting by eating more simply, offering up a meal, or forgoing certain foods to keep us focused on the importance of God in our lives.
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
Fr. Harry
