“I am ready to go.” Those were the first words the mother of a parishioner said. Mom was dying and there wasn’t much time left. Could have fooled me. Mom sat in her wheelchair, laughing and chatting with the nurses and other visitors.
This was one of my first pastoral visits as a newly ordained priest. As we talked, I realized that all the preparation I had done, the carefully selected prayers and scripture readings, didn’t matter at all. This was someone who loved life and a faith that could teach me a thing or two.
We talked about family, friends and life. We laughed and cried as she recalled memories from long ago and as recent as the previous day. She was ready, she said, to meet Jesus and see her Redeemer and Creator face-to-face.
For Christians, Lent is a season where we take a closer look at ourselves and our relationship with God, reflecting where we have felt close to God and when we have drifted away. We examine through reading, prayer and fasting how we can renew our relationships with one another and God as we strive to pattern our lives after Jesus.
This is not a perfect journey. But one where we walk closely with Jesus; become in touch with our humanity as we approach the foot of the cross in the certain hope of the Resurrection and the promise of New Life.
