Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Every Lent I try to discern what God asks of me during the season ahead. This year through a confluence of resources- a conversation with a friend, a Catholic magazine, and a Disney movie- God directed me to this theme: Let Go and Let God! This will be a challenging undertaking, but a great opportunity for conversion. One of the greatest challenges I have is my push to always be doing something, trying to do this with perfection, and believing that if things do not go as planned, I am the responsible party. This drive leads to worry, fear, and great frustration, since I am not God, and I am not in charge. Today’s readings gives me an opportunity to reflect on what God might be calling me to do with this Lenten focus. Jesus’ call for us to be perfect as our heavenly Father does not imply that we should strive to be everything to everyone, but I think that Jesus is calling us to allow love to be the purpose and foundation of all that we do. Since God is love, when we surrender our will to God and God’s love, God’s love and perfection begin to shine through us and our lives.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Every time I read this phrase, it causes me to stop and ponder exactly what Jesus might be trying to say. Jesus realizes that we are imperfect people, so what could He be calling us to do when He asks for us to be perfect? In this same conversation, Jesus has already explained that God loves all people and provides equally for all. The true mark of a child of God is the love of all people- including our enemies. Jesus calls His disciples to allow love to be the cornerstone of all that we do. Our “perfection” comes from our ability to allow God’s love and grace to flow through us. When we let go of our fear, our judgment, our hatred, and our pride, then we allow God’s love to become manifest in who we are. Our “perfection” only comes through our submission to God’s love in our lives as it flows out to the world around us.
In the first reading, Moses reminds the people to observe God’s statutes and decrees with all your heart and soul. God promises to provide protection, and says that the Israelites will be a “people sacred to the LORD.” When we let go of our ambitions, God promises that we will not be alone on our journey. God provides the direction for our lives, but allows us to choose whether we follow or not. Our surrender, allows God’s love and guidance to help chart our path. As the responsorial psalm proclaims, “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”
Now that I have been blessed with God’s vision for me Lenten practice, I need to recognize how I can live this out in my life. I believe that God continues to call me to use the gifts and talents that I have been given to serve those around me. However, I also believe that God wants me to recognize that the focus should not be on my ability to do it all, but on God’s grace working through me.
The Disney movie “Encanto” provided me further fodder for reflection on this topic. In the film, one of the characters- Luisa- has a gift of great strength. She uses this talent to do everything for everyone, but she feels great pressure and worry because of the expectation to always be in control. Without revealing too much about the movie, Luisa does finally find a way where she can use her talents, but no longer feels driven to perfection. In this realization she finds joy and an ability to live a fuller life as she serves the rest of the community. Luisa understands her need to let go of her need to be in control, so she can escape the great pressure that is causing her such turmoil.
I think God recognizes that there are many of us in this world that need to step back and realize that what we are worth should not be measured in what we do and how well we do it. We are worthy because we are loved by God and God provides us our gifts, so we can share God’s love through our actions. When we become aware of this realization, the pressure, the worry and the tumult lessens, and we find our true peace and joy in God. This letting go to let God will not be something that changes completely over the next 40 days of Lent but will require a constant reminder that God desires our freedom and wholeness which can only come when we place our trust in God.
Loving God, Jesus shows us how we are called to let love be our guiding purpose. Through the grace of your Spirit, allow us to be who you call us to be, but then help us to trust that You will do the rest. May our lives be conduits of your love, so all people can find their joy in You. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN
Marylynn Herchline