THE CALL FOR NEW EVANGELI ZATION
Our liturgy today commences the season of Lent. We, Filipinos, traditionally refer to Lent as Kuwaresma —
a name that aptly reminds us that the whole season of Lent consists of
40 days of continued prayers and penance to welcome another moment of
grace when we will commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of
Jesus.
Surely,
this day, our Eucharistic celebrations overflow with people even if
it’s not a Sunday. Force of tradition causes many offices to ask priests
to come and celebrate a special Mass in their workplaces. I would even
venture to say that, among the numerous Mass goers this day, more of
them attend the Eucharist not to go to communion, but to receive the
ashes on their foreheads. This I say with my experience of 25 years in
the priesthood! There are still more Filipinos who are traditional and
sacramentalized, but not yet properly catechized. Even among
professionals in airconditioned offices, a good number has meager
knowledge of their Christian faith.
The
beginning of Lent must not only make us focus on the rituals we have to
prepare for, such as doing the Way of the Cross and abstaining from meat
on Fridays. These are good spiritual disciplines, but more important is
the growing of our minds and hearts in the truth of Christian
doctrines, moral precepts, Scriptures and Church teachings. The Popes
have rightly taught: we need a “new evangelization” where the concern is
the teaching of the Gospel and Church values not to the unchurched, but
to those who have lapsed and grown cold in the grace of their baptism
in Church.
Beyond
prayer, fasting and almsgiving, Jesus says the Heavenly Father sees
what is hidden in our human hearts and minds. May our retreats and
recollections this year give us more “meat” for our empty but searching
minds. The Apostle Paul himself writes that there can be no real,
lasting renewal without the education and transformation of knowledge
(cf. Romans 12:2). Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP
REFLECTION QUESTION: What practical catechetical program can you share to others as part of your Lenten service?
Lord
Jesus, deepen my appreciation of the religious practices that I do. May
I grow in my relationship with You through these rituals.
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