“In these days of Lenten journey,
we have seen and we have heard,
the call to sow justice in the lives of those we serve.”
Lyrics from the hymn In These Days of Lenten Journey
Pottery highlights the environment of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Greenwood, MS during Lent. The pots, like us, are of various sizes, colors and shapes. They stand before our prayerful presence empty and silent. They are a Lenten image of us, the faithful.
The holy water has been removed from its normal spot and placed within a pot atop the baptismal font. When we enter this holy place it is not “business-as-usual”. We are jogged out of our habits and forced to call to mind that this Lenten journey is traveled with the Elect. We, like them, are called to make ourselves more open to the graces of our Baptism. We are challenged to renew our own response to our identity as followers of The Way.
On the Sundays of Lent our women and girls take turns leading a sweeping rite. They lead the Entrance Procession into church by sweeping their way to the sanctuary. This is a cultural reminder of our own need to clean out our hearts in preparation for the rising of Jesus in faithful souls.
Our children at St. Francis School have been challenged to pray, fast and share. Images of their own hands are a daily reminder of this Lenten challenge.
-
- Hands that pray
-
- Holy hands
-
- Fasting hands
-
- Sharing hands
-
- The cross in our hands
Pope Francis has given us a Lenten message urging us to avoid indifference. He says,
“The suffering of others is a call to conversion, since their need reminds me of the uncertainty of my own life and my dependence on God and my brothers and sisters. If we humbly implore God’s grace and accept our own limitations, we will trust in the infinite possibilities which God’s love holds out to us. “
May your Lent be a journey deeper into the Lord’s presence!