As the universal Church embarks on the second week of Lent in 2024, my personal lenten journey had already begun with a quest for a parking space at our packed parish church on Ash Wednesday. The familiar pew I usually occupy was already claimed, prompting me to find an alternative spot. Amidst this shuffle, a profound realization struck me: across the globe, millions of Catholics and mainline Protestants were simultaneously stepping forward as sinners, marked with ashes, and commencing this sacred Lenten journey.
The initial week guided us into the desert alongside Jesus. This past Sunday's Gospel ushered us up a lofty mountain of transfiguration, with God’s directive: "Listen to him." A sign that hangs near my desk asserts, The first duty of love is to listen, coupled with the auxiliary truth next to it: Being heard is so close to being loved that most of us do not know the difference.
This revelation crystallized for me: Lord, I have heard your word. Now, as I descend from the mountain, I embrace the challenge of navigating through the upcoming weeks of Lent. Your voice commands me to listen, not just to You but to engage in deep listening with others. While it may seem deceptively simple, I acknowledge that it will take a profound inner transformation—a willingness to let go of my own thoughts and ways to genuinely listen on my Lenten journey this year.