Per Christum Catholic Blog

(Continued from “A Personal Lenten Journey“)

Well, I survived it. We’re here at Easter, ready or not, and Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Weeks 3, 4 and 5 of Lent went pretty much like the previous week: I stumbled through it. There were a few high points when the light of grace broke through the fog in wonderful ways, but it was  mostly nothing to write home (or blog about) when it came to my end of the deal.

I was sick with a nasty chest-cold for most of Holy Week. I was achy, restless and anxious. Although it was no fun, it did help me enter the drama of Triduum in a more sympathetic way this season.

Last night, at the Easter vigil, my family and I sat in a darkened church and watched it fill with light. I was giddy as kid on the last day of school when we got to sing “alleluia” again. We watched half a dozen people become new creations in Christ through water and the Spirit. We saw two of our dearest friends confess the Catholic faith, be sealed with the Holy Spirit and receive our Lord in the Eucharist for the first time (pray for Trevor and Jen, our newly un-separated siblings.)

Christ was indeed risen and among us and, if you had asked me to last night, I’d have done a dozen more Lents back-to-back for another Vigil like that. And that’s just a preview of the Big Easter that Christ returned to the Father to prepare for us.

As I reflect back this morning on Lent 2009, one thought keeps coming back to me: Christ’s mercy and grace.

Of course I was a failure at Lent and when I tried to step out of my relatively comfortable,  casual suburban stupor and walk next to Christ in the wilderness I looked like an idiot. This should be no surprise. It’s all there in Holy Week: the same mouths that shout “hossana” also shout “crucify”, the Lord’s friends deny and betray him and all save a few abandon Him in his darkest hour.

Christ still welcomed me to the feast. I was a bruised reed left unbroken and smoldering wick left unsnuffed. Or, as someone more golden-mouthed than I once said it:

If any man be devout and love God,
let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.

If any man be a wise servant,
let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord.

If any have labored long in fasting,
let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour,
let him today receive his just reward.

If any have come at the third hour,
let him with thankfulness keep the feast.

If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
let him have no misgivings,
because he shall in no wise be deprived.

If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
let him draw near, fearing nothing.

If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
let him also be not alarmed at his tardiness;
for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor,
will accept the last even as the first;
he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour,
even as unto him who has worked from the first hour.

And He shows mercy upon the last,
and cares for the first;
and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts.
And he both accepts the deeds,
and welcomes the intention,
and honors the acts and praises the offering.

Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord,
and receive your reward,
both the first and likewise the second.

You rich and poor together,
hold high festival.

You sober and you heedless,
honor the day.

Rejoice today,
both you who have fasted
and you who have disregarded the fast.

The table is fully laden;
feast sumptuously.

The calf is fatted;
let no one go hungry away.

Enjoy the feast of faith;
receive all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one weep for his iniquities,
for pardon has shone forth from the grave.

Let no one fear death,
for the Savior’s death has set us free:
he that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.

(St. John Chrysostom’s Paschal Sermon)

photo by Brandi Sims