Reflection at the End of Lent, by Fr. Dan

In recent years, much of my spiritual reading has led me to deal with the idea of thinking unitively vs. dualistically in the second half of life and I have found this movement very helpful in many areas of my life.

In our early years, we tend to think and act dualistically, that is, always seeing everything in terms of right/wrong, them/us, black/white. This is normal for our own human development as long as we open ourselves to moving into a new pattern

This came to mind today in the Lenten readings for the Tuesday of the fifth week of Lent.

We hear the story of the Israelites in the desert grumbling about their state and the fact they are being bitten by painful seraph serpents. Moses is told by God to make a bronze serpent for the people to look upon to be healed.

In the gospel of John for that same day, Jesus refers to the image of the bronze serpent being lifted up in the desert in reference to Himself, his death on the cross and his resurrection. It is important to note the words in Greek for “Resurrection” and “being lifted up on the cross” are the same. Interestingly, in the Old Testament reading, the snake has a painful bite and can cause death, but a snake is also known to shed its old skin to have a new one, a sign of new life.

The Scriptures for this day remind me that the experience of death and resurrection are to be seen as one.

As we approach the liturgical celebration of the Triduum next week, we see this same concept come alive in that there is a unity in the celebrations of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The flow of the liturgy connects all three events we celebrate: the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Rising of Jesus.

There is an old phrase in Roman Catholic theology which states, “As the Church prays, so it shows what it believes.” The celebration of the Triduum shows the unity in death and resurrection, that the two are intimately combined, one indispensable without the other.

What does this say to us in our daily lives? It shows us that as we reflect on our lives, we see that in those moments of loss, disappointment and change there is always the potential for new life. That is what we celebrate as we enter into this most important week of the year for us as Christians.

As we are called to enter into this unity of belief, we are also called to seek and to think in a more unitive way of our lives in a world so torn by hatred and division.

It is significant to note that there are two words in the Scriptures for the devil. One is “diablos”, which means “to divide”. The other is “the accuser”, expressing the fact that in our human journey we often come together to create an enemy, to set up an “us/them” division in life.

I hope and pray that as Christians, we can see the connection in our lives between dying and rising, and grow into a more unitive perspective in the way we view our human family as well.

On behalf of all of our parish staff I hope and pray for you and your family a Holy Week that is challenging and enriching and an Easter season filled with joyous new life.