Lenten Reflections

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By Sue Gabert, Associate Dean of Students

As we approach the Triduum the readings of the day have a rawness about them. For me they focus so strongly on our humanity, its earthiness, our brokenness. As I reflect on the first reading and responsorial psalm I am struck by the raw and tangible description of the reality that life is not easy, in tandem with a clarity that God is the source of our strength and our ability to bear difficulties. In God we can bear all things if we invite him in “Lord, in your great love, answer me”.

As we move to the Gospel reading, the foreshadowing of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, I am struck by how this narrative highlights the pull of temptation. It’s easy to make Judas the bad guy, to point the finger at him, and not to recognize the Judas in ourselves. But, how many ways do we turn away from God; tempted by something self-serving? How many times do we deny the God who loves and sustains us? When life is challenging why do we often forget to call upon our Loving Lord who is there to answer our call. How many times do we think we got this on our own? This reading is an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on the times when we have asked in different ways “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”. This question shows up in different ways but is found when we have turned away from God by focusing on worldly things, in self-indulgence, in selfishness; when we make choices that are not rooted in love but rather in our own pleasure, greed, or pride.

As we head into the most Holy of days, where we experience the Passion of our Lord and Savior, let us pause, take stock, refocus, and be honest about the times that we have said “Surely it is not I, Lord?”. Let us do this not as an exercise in beating ourselves up but as a means to grow, to turn back to God, to learn from our missteps, and to renew ourselves in the Gospel. In the coming days we are reminded of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior. The sacrifice of a son, the suffering of a servant, so that we might have eternal life ~ the deepest expression of love ever witnessed by humankind. May we call upon God to be our strength as we navigate the difficulties and the temptations we encounter and may we be earthen vessels of God’s great love for all.