Thoughts at the end of Lent 2020
Nativity
Dear Friends of Nativity,
“For the first time ever … I feel I have observed Lent. How did I ever take for granted the opportunity of going to Mass, like it was a normal routine? When have I felt this much hunger for the Eucharist? There I was in the desert, craving and yearning for more of Jesus.” I am paraphrasing this quote, but it was originally written by parishioner Rose Mijares in a recent Facebook post. Her expression tugged at my heart as it put into words the feelings that have also been swarming around in my mind.
Entering deeper into the season of Lent and in this time of self-isolation, I believe a large number of us can relate to her sentiment. Lent is, after all, a season intended for drawing inward; it calls for quiet reflection, increased prayer, decreased indulgences, occasional fasting and penitential practices. It’s a time to reset our hearts, to draw closer to Christ, and to contemplate the full significance of His life, death and resurrection. Yet, in truth, outside of participating in all the congregational liturgies and activities available to us at church, how many of us actually put into practice all the Lenten traditions that we are called to observe?
I don’t mean to imply that during any other Lenten season we don’t, perhaps, read more often from our bibles, or abstain from meat on Fridays, or ponder more on the readings and homilies we hear at Mass on Sundays. Yet the truth is, we live in a very active society with many situations and events tugging at our attention. When our time is filled with ‘busy-ness’, our minds are obviously focused outward and we’re less inclined to spend our valuable time in private reflection and in conversation with God. Without that time, our ability to make good decisions, to be at peace, and to love God and one another with all our hearts then becomes diminished. Well, that’s true for me, at least.
I believe that most of us think about this time of isolation in similar ways. For some, it’s been a pleasant reprieve to be at home, spending time catching up and doing the things you don’t normally do. For others, it’s not so easy to stay at home. It can become too isolating – particularly if there are situations of illness, grief, depression, loneliness, poverty, addiction or abuse within the walls of their homes. And I can’t even begin to wrap my head around what it might be like to be homeless. For these people, we must have compassion and offer up our prayers – and maybe our sufferings, too – for their sake and the sake of the whole world.
This is what lent is about … the Passion of Christ and our Compassion for Others. The longing we have to be back at church, and the hunger we’re experiencing for the Holy Eucharist – it’s strengthening our souls and giving us good reason to never take it for granted again!
On that note I’ll share with you this beautiful poem I received, compliments of Marilyn Olas:
And the people stayed home.
and read books,
and listened,
and rested,
and exercised,
and made art,
and played games,
and learned new ways of being,
and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.
Some met shadows.
And the people began to think differently
and the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorance,
dangerous, mindless and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed,
and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses, and made new choices,
and dreamed new images,
and created new ways to live
and heal the earth fully,
as they had been healed.
- Kitty O'Meara
More from Your Nativity Community:
§ Sunday 3/29, Mass at Nativity of Our Lady with Fr. Matt and Deacon Tom
§ Last Friday, March 27th, Pope Frances provided an Extraordinary Urbi et Orbi Blessing to all the faithful, including the opportunity to receive a Plenary Indulgence. Our Bishop, The Most Reverend Daniel E. Garcia, also provided an explanation about what special indulgences are and the conditions needed to receive them. It may take a little time, but I highly recommend you to read them! They are very special gifts to us in this time of worldwide pandemic.
§ Coastal Caregiver Resource Center has grant money available to give caregivers relief with professional respite care for their loved ones. There is no charge to recipients receiving this support. For more information, contact Kiersten Arnaudin at 805-451-2450, or karaudi@sbch.org. You may also visit their website at www.coastcrc.org.
§ Bill and Claudia Batty offer this song for your listening pleasure: "Everything" by Lauren Daigle
§ Pat Malmstom offers this Qigong exercise video - Daily Qigong Routine
§ Liz Levy offers this video: Safe Grocery Shopping in COVID-19 Pandemic
Wishing you all the best! As always, please let us know if there’s any way we can support you.
Peace,
Susan Lindstrom
Senior Outreach Ministries
805-544-2357, x 202
To the desert, follow Me, for I am God, who is your hope.
Return to me with all your heart; let go the world and come to me,
Rend your heart and not your clothes, for I am kind. My name is Mercy.