Yes, it's that time of year again, when I remember that I have this blog, and I recommit myself to making it a regular part of my Lenten meditation, at the very least. Last year I wrote one entry, just one. So if I double that this year, I'm improving, nu?
I make no promises, but the writing is flowing a little better this year, and perhaps I can even get three or four posts during Lent, which might turn into something even more regular...
But I get ahead of myself.
This is an interesting time to be a Catholic, is it not? I hear so much about my faith, or rather what others think it to be, on the news these days. I guess when two major presidential candidates identify as Catholic, and the current president's administration decides a few rounds with American bishops might be fun, people are going to be talking about Catholics. And it is refreshing that not every thing I hear in the media makes me want to throw things, though I am tweeting a lot more than I used to. Note to those of us "digital immigrants" of a certain age: careful what you tweet, as you may get retweeted, and find yourself in conversations you never intended. Thanks, Morning Joe (actually, it was kind of fun, and I do love my daily dose of Morning Joe)!
So I approached Ash Wednesday thinking a lot about what other people are saying being Catholic means, and went to Mass across the street at Our Lady of Refuge (not my regular church, but a lovely community itself, and, did I mention it's right across the street from my home?). I was really moved by the service, one of the morning masses, full mass with ashes at the end. The presiding priest began Mass with this thought: Lent is the time for us to reflect on our sins, not the sins of others, but our sins. While that seems so simple, it was a great thought to focus on during Mass, and will definitely be part of my Lenten reflection these next forty days. It is the thought I prayed on during the rest of Mass--how often do I think about what others are doing to me, or when someone else is "wrong", and how often do I stop and think about my own behavior and its impact on others? How often do I think about how I'm living my faith, and my own accountability to God and myself? All good questions that I hope will carry me through Lent and beyond.
So, happy Lent, and hopefully this will not be the last post of 2012. In the meantime, check out someone who's an inspiration to me in his blogging, at Googling God.
