COVER STORY - "Welcome to Lent!"

Aurora invited Fr David O'Hearn to offer some spiritual 'handy hints' as we prepare to celebrate the holy season of Lent. Fr David O'Hearn is the Parish Priest of Nelson Bay.

Lent is a season that has the potential to be one of the church's happiest and enjoyable for persons of all generations. That is if we wish (and choose) to enter into it in the spirit of the new wine of Jesus rather than the old wine of John the Baptist. There will be those who will immediately say "here we go, the traditional church being condemned once again". Not at all. Jesus said of John, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matt 11:11) Jesus was not condemning John; he was merely stating a fact. So when the church calls us into prayer, fasting and abstinence and giving to others (Ordo 2004 p. 37), we have a choice to respond either in the tradition of the old wine - which Jesus did not condemn - or in the spirit of the new wine of Jesus. From this point of view I offer the following reflections.

Seasons by Sr Dorothy Woodward RSJ

Prayer: This Lent let us allow our prayer to be as intimate as possible, and to assist with this I suggest utilising some very basic principles. In the knowledge that God knows all our needs, let your prayer be as empty of "self" as possible. To foster this, let your minds take on the simple mantra of "Praise God" sung quietly within to the tune of Amazing Grace.

Praise means "to lift up to God" and, as stated in the Dictionary of Biblical Theology (p. 443), "... is more theocentric, more deeply lost in God, closer to adoration; and it is conducive to ecstasy". Praise is a beautiful way of living the call: "...unless you become like a little child you will not enter the kingdom of God." (Matt 18:3) As you sing the tune, imagine yourself as a little child looking up to a loving father and putting out your arms to him. A loving adult knows the simple language of children. They know the child's seeking an affectionate hug or a loving embrace from a trusted parent.

It is important to consider that this prayer experience depends upon your personal image of God as being a loving father. Allow your spirit to enter this embrace whenever it chooses. To your surprise and joy, you may find that eventually, you will move into this prayer position without even having made a conscious decision to do so. When this does happen, you will realise just how hungry your spirit is for such an embrace, and how grateful it will be to you for giving it the pathway to securing it.
Fasting: Not eating lollies and giving up chocolate biscuits is a great way of teaching the deeper spiritual truths to children, and as such all good teachers need to model their teaching. However, in addition to modelling, we as adults are looking for something far more challenging and fulfilling than a slimmer waistline. In the spirit of the new wine and in the presence of God's loving embrace, let us fast from all the destructive and negative thoughts which arise from deep within us. As the negative thoughts approach and enter our conscious awareness, look clearly at each of them with a loving smile, saying, "No thanks, not today, it's Lent".

Our minds can waste so much time with thoughts of past guilt, shame and lost opportunities, from which we have already been redeemed by Jesus' death. We would be fasting from the (negative) inner foods that are unsatisfying, and which leave us "starving" for the food that really lasts and sustains us. Remember that such inner fasting will lead a person to be ravenous within. To satisfy this inner hunger move into your new prayer experience as previously mentioned. If you think this will be easy, see how much energy and effort it will require of you.

Abstinence: In the traditional sense, we abstained from meat to remind us of our saviour's death. The tradition could be likened to a little bird sitting on our shoulder pecking at our ear, ever reminding us to allow the sacredness of the spiritual journey to be part of our day. So let us choose to "abstain" each and every day from the consumption of other people's negativity, destructive words and actions.

In the spirit of the gospel this is a private affair - "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face"(Matt 6:12) - so that no one knows that you are fasting. Just let others' "stuff" wash over you like water off a duck's back. Why? Because you have chosen to take this time of Lent seriously. You are preparing your spirit to be in union with the Divine's, to die to that which is not of the Divine and so to enter the kingdom that is present through Pentecost. This is not a time to condemn those who bring hurt to us. We would now understand that our own fasting from negative, destructive and lifeless thoughts would produce the very food that others will receive from us. So make this Lenten journey a private affair, a journey of intimacy and discovery with your God by using the very powerful guides of the wisdom of our church.

Artwork: Sr Dorothy Woodward RSJ

Giving To Others: Along with your usual charitable giving to the less fortunate through Project Compassion, the journey of purifying our inner water has a direct impact on everyone with whom we are in relationship. The soul is the inner ocean of water that is channelled out through our mouth, in what we say, and through our body, in what we do. It is the experience that people have with us that tells them what sort of water they are swimming in. The water is either crystal clear - filled with energy and bursting with life that is a pleasure to be part of - or it is murky and odorous - at the least a chore to be swimming in, or at the most treacherous and frightening.

Our inner water is what we have to swim in 24/7. Therefore, the motivation to do this work is obvious; moreover, the fruit of one's labour gives glory to the presence of God.

Conclusion: Finally, to assist you in this journey, please place your Bible in the fridge. Every time you open it to nourish your body, you will be reminded to nourish your inner spirit through prayer, fasting and abstinence.

Fr David O'Hearn

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