My dear friends,
My parents just celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They have long exceeded the marriages of their parents, and are set to top the record of Mom’s maternal grandparents who were married 63 ½ years. During their marriage, Mom and Dad have moved seven times in five states. They’ve raised eight children and welcomed twelve grandchildren. Careers have come and gone, and the readjustments were made for retirement. They have chauffeured children to music lessons, scout meetings, and sports practices. They’ve paid for orthodontists, cars, and college tuitions. It has been a long, meandering journey, and they are still together.
When asked the secret of their long marriage, they often joke saying, “We had an agreement. Whoever filed for divorce got custody of the children!” They would be the first people to tell you a long marriage is not easy. They have had their disagreements and fights. There have been times they were angry and did not like each other very much. They can push each other’s buttons in all the wrong ways. Despite all this, they still love one another. They choose every day to care for and respect the other. They choose to put the interests of the couple ahead of their own as individuals. They have learned to make compromises and adapt to changes. They always knew they had to be united, whether making a choice about a move, how to spend and invest money, or how to handle problems with the children. If in doubt, they would pause, talk together, and then go back the problems at hand. Love, respect, and unity are the core of that relationship. While not always easy, it has made them who and what they are.
We seek the same thing in our relationship with God. It’s not always easy, as sacrifices need to be made. Sometimes we would rather go our own way. We get fed up with commandments and teachings and just want to leave it behind, but where would we go? If we love God and God loves us, what other choice is there? We need to pause and think. We pray for patience. It takes compromise and compassion. Lent is a time to focus upon that relationship. How well do we love, respect, and unite ourselves with Christ? This is a time to repair any breaks. This is a time of renewal and reflection; a chance to deepen the bonds we have. Lent is our time to appreciate the love our God has for us and the love we have for God. It is not always easy or perfect, but it’s real. Make the most of this season to make that bond tighter.
Joyfully yours in Christ, Fr. Joe