Lenten Reflection for March 30th, Easter Saturday

Hello friends,

We are very nearly at the other edge of the wilderness we entered into 46 days ago. Today I look back at our walk through the desert and reflect on some of the ways I’ve grown and learned over this time.

Over the weeks I can see the importance of praying for and being attentive to how the Holy Spirit would like to bless us with the Gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgment, Courage, Piety and Wonder and Awe. If we don’t ‘open’ and use these Gifts, we might experience ‘stunted growth’ when hoping to be filled with the grace that comes with the Fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.

Though I wasn’t able to speak to each Fruit and how it might ‘branch out’ from the Gifts, I certainly could see how each Fruit can blossom from the Gifts if we ask the Lord to fill our heart and transform our life and spirit to be more like Christ.

This seems to be the main point, we can know we are on a right path of discernment and of transformation, whatever that might be for each of us, if we are following the examples Christ set for us though his life and witness. Saint Paul says in Philippians, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:4-8)

To have a spirit of Joy and Peace, to show Patience and Kindness, to share in Generosity and Goodness, to be Gentle, Modest and Chaste, to practise Self-Control and Chastity and to live lives of Love for others, this is to be transformed and live in a Christ like way.

Friends, I feel blessed to have journeyed with you throughout this Lenten Season, I hope it has been a fruitful time for you as well! Let’s continue to pray for all these Gifts and Fruits to fill our heart and our lives to make us more like Christ.

After the Holy Saturday Vigil this evening we enter fully into the Joy of Easter celebrations, all praise and thanks be to God for His abundant mercies and blessings!

He is Risen, Alleluia!!