Identity and Mission

Gerard McNulty

What changes during the Season of LENT?

 

To answer this question, according to our Catholic tradition, hopefully everything.  As we commence the Season of Lent let us take some time to reflect on what can change in our lives.  In this excerpt from his 1980s talk The Four Gospels, Father Richard reflects on what it means to follow Jesus in the Season of Lent:

“Immediately after the temptation in the desert, Jesus goes out to Galilee and there he begins to preach. His initial preaching is summed up in the verse, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” 

Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15 

 

It is a theologically packed statement. What does the word “repent” mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean to beat ourselves up or to feel bad about ourselves. “Repent” (or metanoia in Greek) means to turn around, to change. The first word that comes out of Jesus’ mouth is change—be willing to change. 

 

People who are not willing to change are not willing to turn away from themselves. What we’re in love with usually is not God. We’re in love with our way of thinking, our way of explaining, our way of doing. One of the greatest ways to protect ourselves from God, and to protect ourselves from truth and grace, is simply to buy into some kind of cheap conventionalism and call it tradition. 

 

But the great traditions always call people on a journey of faith to keep changing. There’s no other way this human personality can open up to all that God is asking of us.  There’s no way we can open up to all we have to learn, all we have to experience, unless we’re willing to let go of the idols of yesterday and the idols of today. The best protection from the next word of God is the last word of God. We take what we heard from God last year and we build a whole system around it, and then we sit there for the rest of our lives.”


Project Compassion

CARITAS Australia’s Project Compassion is an opportunity for us to change by giving our change to those most in need. Students will be receiving Project Compassion boxes shortly and are asked during the season of Lent to contribute what they can to those on the margins of our global society.  In the last week of term, students return the boxes to the College and the proceeds are sent to CARITAS Australia so that they can continue to do their life saving work.  To find out more about the great work of CARITAS Australia visit their website.