A Holy Week Reflection from Longtime THP Community Member Randall Woodard
Now that Lent is nearly over, and we are close to celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus, it can be a good time to look back at our experience of Lent and how it has prepared us to experience the joy of Easter.
I can remember giving up candy each year as a child. As I got older, that changed to beer, as candy’s role in my life has diminished with time. I bet a lot of us have spiritual practices that became habits, and we may no longer deeply examine how we might grow and sacrifice as we journey through Lent.
Hopefully, Lent has been a wonderful opportunity to go into the desert to strip away the elements that obstruct discipleship. To put this simply, our faith might be understood as us living holy lives as disciples as we love God and neighbor. Our sacrifices during Lent have prepared us to rejoice in that holiness as we set our sights on Easter.
We might be well served at this point to consider what practices actually allowed us to grow in holiness, become stronger disciples, and to more deeply love God and neighbor. Additionally, we know that our connection to others and to our higher purpose relate deeply to our own happiness.
Did Lent provide that for me?
If not, perhaps I should consider a new approach next year?
Here are three questions to focus on while following Christ into the desert, so we may more faithfully love God and others even as we are nearly finished with our Lenten sacrifices.
Firstly, let’s look in the mirror. What should we continue to strip away that will make us better disciples? What negativity or patterns of sin should we walk away from? A traditional examination of conscience can help with this, as can the vulnerability to ask a spouse, close friend, or loved one what might be good for us to strip away—not only for Lent, but for good.
Secondly, we can ask what practices we need to continue so that we can develop our relationship with God. It might be helpful to try something new if our Lenten spiritual practices didn’t bring us into a deeper encounter with God, or allow us to be drawn more deeply in the presence of God.
Finally, how might we more deeply continue to love others once Lent is over? Is there service to those in need to undertake?
As we finish Lent and prepare to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus, we might seek new paths forward to more effectively and intentionally develop as disciples and emerge from this liturgical season to spring into Easter with a newfound and continued determination to continue our growth in holiness, and more deeply fall in love with God and neighbor.
Happy Easter!
Randall "Woody" Woodard
Community Member — The Haitian Project
Dr. Randall Woodard, is director of graduate studies in theology, chair of philosophy and religion, and associate professor of theology and religion at St. Leo University. Woody volunteers his time at The Haitian Project on the Governance Committee, and Board Recruitment and Visiting Team Subcommittees.
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