Lent is a journey and, what’s more, it’s a pilgrimage. And a pilgrimage, according to writer Paul Elie, “is a journey undertaken in the light of a story.” As we enter more fully into this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we are called to ask ourselves and reflect on a simple question: What’s the story that is giving light to our Lenten journey?
The answer seems obvious, of course. We’re walking in the light of the story of Jesus and his passion and death. And as sad, painful, violent and unjust as that story is, we are being asked to not look away when the going gets tough. It’s a six-week deathwatch on our way to Easter, a supernatural event that holds the promise of eternal life and victory over death. It’s quite a story we are walking through, and the light is bright.
And yet, our Lenten practices and disciplines can sometimes seem to have very little to do with this story and promise of Jesus. We abstain from meat on Fridays but give little thought as to why. We give up candy or alcohol or over-eating, all the while hoping that we drop a few pounds and get our lives back in order. These are not bad things, of course, but on their own they fall short of spiritual pilgrimage undertaken in the light of the story of Jesus. For above all else, Lent is a chance to put one foot in front of the other and draw closer to Jesus on his walk toward the Cross.
Lent is about our intentions and commitments, about the spiritual movement that is taking place in us as we move through these 40 days. Lent comes to life when we walk this journey with a little more solemnity than usual, when we extend our times of prayer a little longer, or enter into them a little more frequently. It’s not just about not grabbing that piece of candy or a beer; it’s about pausing ourselves in our steps, turning around, and finding Jesus meeting our gaze and smiling in our direction. It’s about walking that long and treacherous road to the cross with him and not turning aside because the rest of our life is just so attractive and exciting. It’s about saying to ourselves: This is the journey I choose to walk, at least for these 40 days. And maybe then I’ll keep walking the same road with a little more energy, passion and discipline. Let’s start here, in the light of the story.
Suggested Lenten Reading: I highly recommend Christine Marie Eberle’s new book, “Finding God Along the Way: Wisdom from the Camino for Life at Home,” published in January by Paraclete Press. The book tells the story of the author’s 2022 pilgrimage along the Ignatian Camino in Spain (not to be confused with the intersecting and better-known Camino de Santiago). In the company of a group of pilgrims whose average age was 67, Eberle traced the 16th-century footsteps of St. Ignatius Loyola, mystic and founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).
The book is far more than a travelogue, though. Eberle’s writing takes us deep into her own experience of the pilgrimage, complete with all its physical, psychological and spiritual challenges. Along the way, readers are also introduced to the story of Ignatius, his transformation and spirituality, and the development and character of his influential “Spiritual Exercises.” Whether you ever plan to take on such a pilgrimage or not, Eberle’s book is a journey in itself, and one you’ll be glad you undertook. Along the way, like the pilgrims in the book, you will find yourself and the God who made you. For more information, and to check our Eberle’s supplemental Lenten reading guide to the book, go to: https://paracletepress.com/products/finding-god-along-the-way
Speaking of Journeys…
Clink on the link below to go to my website and enjoy one of my favorite “faith journey” songs of all time, Rich Mullins’ contemporary worship classic, “Sometimes By Step,” a song which contains this reminder of God’s providence and promise:
O God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
And I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.
(by Rich Mullins and Beaker)
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