ENGAGE - ROAD TO RECOVERY | KAIROS GLOBAL | MARCH 2019

Author: Anil Israel

Intro: Lent is a time to help us reflect on what it means to traverse the way to Calvary, shares Anil Israel

Moses stayed there with the LORD forty days and nights, eating and drinking nothing.” (Ex.34:28) Elijah too is believed to have walked “forty days and forty nights” (1Kg.19:8) to the Holy mountain of God. Even Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” (Mt.4:2) before starting his public ministry. Forty is therefore a biblical number associated with preparation.

The Holy season of Lent blesses us with 40 exclusive days beginning on Ash Wednesday to help us prepare ourselves to welcome our risen Saviour, not only on Easter Sunday, but during every Holy Mass, since every eucharistic celebration is a commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As a child, I recall colouring petals of flowers printed as a ‘Lenten Wreath’ for every ‘good act’ that we were encouraged to do as our tiny sacrifice for Him who sacrificed Himself for us. Traditionally, the Church encourages the practices of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. I have fond memories of meditating on the Stations of the cross, every Friday during Lent. This was something we miss very much here. We have revived this practice in a small way, once a week during family prayer, and thereby let our children experience the ‘way of suffering’ Christ endured for us.

Abstaining from meat or depriving our mortal bodies from our favourite food or activity during Lent is a way of mortifying our senses through external disciplinary pursuits. This ought to further prompt us to embark on similar internal disciplinary pursuits towards the purification of our souls. A plethora of suggestions from fasting on anger or social media to feasting on kindness or lending a listening ear are at our disposal. We will have to identify for ourselves one or more areas of improvement that we wish to pursue during this season of holy preparation.

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Mt.9:13; Hos.6:6) is an open invitation to be the merciful face of the Heavenly Father. We need to soak ourselves everyday with thoughts like: “What can I do today that will put a smile on God’s face?” “Do I always do the good I ought to do?” (cf. Jas.4:17) “How can I be an improved version of myself for all the people God places in my life, both inside as well as outside my home?”

“Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1Sam.15:22) reminds us to be faithful to our duties and obligations, irrespective of our way of life. “Am I obedient to the teachings of the Church?” A regular sincere examination of conscience can surely help us realize how much more we still need to grow – how much more we still need to humble ourselves – to let go of all that distances us from Him.

Despite suffering utter humiliation and severe torture, Jesus uttered words of compassion, “Father, forgive them Recov eRy 11 WE Will havE to idEntiFY For oursElvEs onE or MorE arEas oF iMProvEMEnt that WE Wish to PursuE durinG this sEason oF holY PrEParation for they do not know what they do.” (Lk.23:34) Whenever, we gaze at the crucifix, we can see him with outstretched arms saying, “I love you so much.” Someone put it beautifully, ‘3 Nails + 1 Cross = 4 Given.’ Truly, the symbol of our faith, is an apt sign of forgiveness. It is uplifting and encouraging to realize that there is immeasurable power in Forgiveness. It undoubtedly, incredibly saves us. When Jesus forgave us, He saved us. When we forgive others, we save ourselves, by unplugging the obstacles to allow His grace to flow through. G.R.A.C.E. reminds us of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

When we pray, “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” (Mt.6:12) we acknowledge that it is a pre-requisite and necessary condition. For, “if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.” (Mt.6:15) Besides, isn’t he who forgives greater than he who is forgiven? No wonder, as followers of Christ, we are called to practice forgiveness, “seventy times seven” (Mt.18:22) 24x7. Forgiveness is the hallmark of our Christian identity. Can I call myself a Christian, if I ever have chosen ‘not to forgive’? The way to Calvary can therefore be understood to be the way of suffering, the way of sacrifice, the way of humility, the way of forgiveness. Forgiveness victoriously shines out as the way.

Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe, for we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. He who was without sin, “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1Tim.2:6) “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” (Isa.53:5) “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!” (Phil.2:8) “I am no longer a human being; I am a worm, despised and scorned by everyone!” (Ps.22:6) God “emptied Himself” (Phil.2:7) and “raised us up” (Eph.2:6) to Heaven.

Truly, Forgiveness requires profound humility. Sin is ugly, but virtue is beautiful. L.E.N.T. reminds us to Leave Every Negative Thing. Let us shed the ugly garment of sin and put on the beautiful garment of virtue. Lent is a time to help us reflect on what it means to traverse the way to Calvary, to endure suffering patiently, to embrace our crosses lovingly, to traverse the path of humility and put forgiveness into action, to reorder and re-align our lives on the road to recovery.

Our Life is God’s gift to us. What we make out of it is our gift to God. Let us deeply resolve, during this Lenten season, to stop living selfish lives based on disordered love of self, to radically re-orient our inner lives and start living selfless lives based on ardent love of God. and true love of neighbour. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn.13:15) Am I willing to “imitate Christ?” (1Cor.11:1)

Anil Israel lives in Mannheim, Germany with his wife Sunitha and five children