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Christ is in our midst!!

I'm already really weary of Lent. It's not the fasting. In my parish and so many Latin parishes I've belonged to, the whole period of Lent gets filled up with extra things to be involved with. It almost seems like Lent is a time to fill up the spaces of our lives with meetings, Bible studies, retreats, etc. This week, I've got four such extras.

I don't know why--maybe it's age--but somehow I yearn for more quiet time; more time to just move off to do the examination of conscience, private prayer, and spiritual reading that gets short shrift the rest of the year because we're so "busy" doing so much that comes down to little more than distractions. Maybe I let myself get drawn into too much.

Has anyone else had this thought? Any suggestions?

In Christ,

Bob

I know how you feel.....I commented to a friend just yesterday that this has been a "Lent of Discontent." Sometimes I wonder how I would ever hear God's Voice with all the other clamoring going on; I would love to be a Mary and sit at the feet of the Lord but running a business, a household and being the sole support to 3 growing children necessitates that I am much more a Martha.

I'm afraid I have no suggestions, but I will especially remember you in prayer at the Divine Liturgy this evening.

Thanks.

My favorite time of day is the time I eat my breakfast. My wife goes off to work and I turn off the TV and radio. And just listen. Figure if God has something to say, He'll say it and maybe what He wants to say is "Be still and know that I am God."

Bob

You wonder why so much scheduled activity. One thought I had is this: many people I've talked with seem to find it hard to sit silently in prayer for any length of time, I think because they haven't cultivated this type of prayer in their life. They find themselves restless or bored after a short while. The scheduled Lenten services, retreats, book groups, etc, provide a structure that is very helpful for them, and without which, they might be much less likely to increase their ascetical efforts and focus during Lent. (And perhaps the "increased Lenten activity" is also reflective of our culture's huge emphasis on activity, and on keeping busy and "productive")

My parish has a number of additional services during Lent, and they are very lovely, especially the presanctified liturgies each Friday evening. They are a treasured part of Lent for me, but like you, I am also someone who needs time for silent prayer and reflection. What I often do is stay in the church for silent prayer after the services. Our parish priest is very supportive of anyone who wants to do this after any scheduled service or "activity."

I think that both are important, the extra prayer services and retreats and book groups and such things, as well as time for silent prayer and reflection, but each person has to find the right balance of the two for themselves. Perhaps you could go to a few less of the scheduled activities, and take that time for quiet prayer, reflection, and spiritual reading, either at home or in the church. If you are feeling a yearning for more time for this, I think it's very important for you to find ways to do this. If it means cutting back on some of the meetings and retreats, I think it would be good to allow yourself to do so.

You also might consider, if your life circumstances permit it, spending a day, or several days, in silence at a nearby monastery, and allowing yourself to just follow your own rhythm of prayer, reflection, and spiritual reading. (another one of my personal favorites)

Just a few thoughts.

I think each day has enough worries of it's own. This is one of those Lents so far that I am not having much success so far as getting to church for the different services. SAD! We even had dinner, and a speaker afterwards tonight. As much as I wanted to be there, I couldn't make it.

However, I think it is a state of suffering servant. One thing after another has happened physically to keep us from getting there.

My husband has been making great strides forward these past few months, especially after a two week stay in the hospital just before Lent started. However, this week set him back with a really bad stomach virus that I had last week.

It gets to be so frustrating! I love the extra prayer time that Great and Holy Lent avails to us. However, this year so far, it seems I am having to avail myself to the quiet time that it provides.

SIGH*

Because of my work schedule, and because the Liturgy of St. Basil is so long, my miniscule sacrifice this lent is that I cannot attend my own Byzantine Church. I'm not low-rating the Latin rite Mass (at least I can receive Communion)but I do feel a bit out-of-place and awkward there.

Again on acc't of wk schedule, I can't go to any of the Pre-Sanctified this lent - altho I may ask to leave early on Wed. of Holy Week so I can attend that eve.

Compared to what folks in Japan & Libya are going through, my issue is invalid.

Christ is amongst us!

Jaya's words are wise. Christians who are graced with the gift of silent contemplation are a very small minority. Others have not received this gift and the retreats, classes and other activities help them to grow spiritually. May God bless those who offer these potential occasions of grace and facilitate the participants so that they can fully experience the gift of God's love.

Be at peace,
Fr Deacon Paul