From The Pastor 3-13-2016

It has been said that the month of March "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". This, of course, refers to the weather which goes from the cold of winter to the warmth of springtime. In many ways, this can refer as well to the transition from the Season of Lent to the Season of Easter.

Lent is a time to look into our souls with cold-eyed clarity and to see those areas in our lives in which we need to make real changes. The disciplines of Lent--prayer, fasting and almsgiving - are meant to help us take an assessment of our spiritual lives and beg the Lord for his mercy to transform us. It is good and healthy to deny ourselves in order to be open to the Lord's cleansing Spirit.

The Season of Easter is a reminder that despite all of our efforts, it is the Lord who accomplishes any good work within us. The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus remind us that although we are sinners, we have been redeemed. We have been freely offered the grace to be sons and daughters of God. Of course, the awareness of the need for self-denial and the recognition of God's mercy is not for Lent and Easter only! It is a day-in, day-out struggle. We participate
in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. We must die to ourselves in order to rise to new life. May these last few weeks of Lent be a time for us all to spiritually prepare for the celebration of the great Season of Easter!