And miles to go

by Bishop John C. Nienstedt

I trust that by now each of us has entered willingly and thoughtfully into the challenging season of Lent. With the imposition of ashes, we are directed to "turn from sin and believe in the Gospel." But, both this "turning" as well as the "believing" involves a process. It is not something we do once for all, but rather something we continue to do over and over again, since what is involved is nothing less than our relationship with God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Relationships never stand still. Either they grow or they lapse depending on the effort we put into them. The same is true of our relationship with God.

Just after the New Year, some friends invited me to see the blockbuster film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. My Lenten thoughts have been quite affected by that experience as well as by my subsequent decision to re-read the original text again.

The story begins in the Third-Age of the Middle-Earth in the Shire where dwell the Hobbits, a race of little people who live contentedly in a lush peaceful valley. Billbo Baggins needs to leave the Shire since his past exploits have caught up with him. The good wizard, Gandalf, gets Billbo to admit that he came into possession of the "Ring", the attractive object of power which first belonged to the Dark Lord, Sauron, and who desperately wants it back.

Before leaving the Shire, Billbo bequeaths the Ring to his nephew, Frodo, who in order to save the tranquility of the Shire must take the ring back to Mt. Orodruin in the land of Mordor, where it can only be destroyed in the very fires from which it had been crafted.

Frodo doesn’t want any part of the Ring. He tries to give it to Gandalf. He desperately wishes someone else had been chosen for the role he is now forced to assume. Ultimately, Frodo sets out with a band of three companions on an adventure of danger and daring. His life, as well as all those who eventually join up with him, will be forever changed.

There is both danger and daring too in our present Lenten adventure. What will happen if I let go of that "sin" with which I have become so comfortable: the daily anger toward my boss, the hurt I nurture because of my spouse, the lust I feel toward human flesh, a jealousy I harbor toward my neighbor, the gossip that I depend on in my circle of friends, the impatience I maintain for the weak and the bumbling. Like breaking a smoking habit or giving up alcohol, we say in our minds, "I can do this", but our desire is soon confronted with our dependence and that is when the battle begins.

Like Frodo and his little band of Hobbits, we are aware that the Old Forest is filled with dangerous creatures calling us to retreat from the path of conversion to which we know we are called. Only the hope of the journey’s success can overcome the fear of the moment and pull us toward a lasting resolve.

Jesus is our hope and he says to us as he said once to the Apostles, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid," (Matthew 14:27)

Through his self-sacrificing love on the Cross, Jesus has cast out all fear. (1 John 4:18) And, he remains with us as the source of our strength, making it possible for us to be drawn away from our old self-centeredness to the fulfillment of our potential in his love. Jesus, having once destroyed sin and death, is alive for us even as we relive with him his Passion and Death in our own lives. This is not some outward drama to be observed, but an inner spiritual quest to be engaged. It is meant to take place at the very depth of our being.

Like Frodo, we may think we have a choice to engage or flee, but ultimately we know that there is no choice. To stay where we are would spell disaster, because "your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Thus, while the call may appear to threaten, it is nevertheless irresistible.

My prayer for each of you this Lent is that you find the grace of time, recollection and motivation to gain from this Lenten journey the promise of the call you have heard to "turn from sin and believe in the Gospel." Do not be afraid. Jesus is with you as your light, your strength and your salvation. The experience of these days should be no less an adventure than that of Frodo and his tiny band of fellow Hobbits.

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

Por el obispo John C. Nienstedt

Después del Año Nuevo, unos amigos me invitaron a ver la pelicula, El Señor de los Anillos: La Comunidad de Anillo. Mis pensamientos Cuaresmales han sido bastante afectados por aquella experiencia así como por mi decisión subsecuente para volver a leer el texto original.

La historia comienza en la Tercera Edad de la Tierra Media en el distrito dónde moran los Hobbits, son una raza de pequeños personajes que viven muy contentos en un valle tranquilo y exhuberante. Billbo Baggins necesita partir del distrito, puesto que sus hazañas pasadas lo han vuelto a perseguir. El buen mago, Gandalf, consigue que Billbo tenga el "Anillo," este objeto atractivo de poder que primero perteneció a Sauron, el Señor Oscuro y quién desesperadamente lo quiere recuperar.

Antes de partir, Billbo deja el Anillo con su sobrino Frodo y este para salvar la tranquilidad del distrito deberá llevar el anillo al Monte del Destino en la tierra de Mordor para que este sea destruido con los mismos fuegos de donde se forjó.

Frodo no quiere ninguna parte del Anillo e intenta darle a Gandalf. Él desesperadamente hubiera deseado que alguien más hubiera sido escogido para asumir esta responsabilidad de la cual fué forzado. Finalmente, Frodo conjuntamente con tres compañeros parten a una aventura de peligro y riesgo. La vida de estos personajes cambiará para siempre.

En nuestra aventura Cuaresmal hoy en día también hay peligro y riesgo. Qué pasaría si dejamos de hacer el "pecado," la cual ya nos hemos acostumbrado: el enojo diario hacia mi jefe, el daño que yo nutro debido a mi cónyuge, la lujuria que yo siento hacia la carne humana, la envidia que yo albergo contra mi prójimo, el chisme en que yo dependo en mi círculo de amigos, la impaciencia que yo sustento para con el débil. Como romper el hábito de fumar o de dejar el alcohol, decimos en nuestra mente, "yo puedo hacer esto", pero pronto nuestro deseo se enfrenta con nuestra dependencia y es allí cuando la batalla comienza.

esús es nuestra esperanza y él nos dice como cuando él dijo una vez a los Apóstoles, "Animo, no teman, soy yo", (Mateo 14:27)

A través de su sacrificio personal en la Cruz Jesús hecha fuera el temor. (1 Juan 4:18) Y permanece con nosotros como fuente de nuestra fuerza, haciendolo posible salir de nuestro viejo egocentrismo para acercar al cumplimiento de nuestro potencial en su amor. Una vez Jesús destruyó el pecado y muerte, y está vivo para nosotros, aun cuando revivimos con él, su Pasión y Muerte en nuestras propias vidas. Esto no es una visualización pública a ser observado, pero una busqueda espíritual interna a emprender. Significa llevar acabo en lo más profundo de nuestro ser.

Mis oraciones para cada uno de ustedes en esta Temporada de Cuaresma para que encuentren la gracia del tiempo, recolección y motivación para que en esta jornada Cuaresmal ganen la promesa del llamado que usted ha oído "Arrepienteté y creé en el Evangelio." No tengan temor. Jesús está con ustedes como su luz, su fuerza y su salvación. La experiencia de estos días debería ser mucho mas emocionante que las aventuras de Frodo y sus pequeños compañeros de la comunidad de los Hobbits.