Let us prepare for the Synodal journey of Lent

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

What does Lent mean today? Giving up chocolate and frequenting fish fries? Pope Francis has said that “Lent is a favorable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” In fact, the spiritual renewal that is proposed to us during this holy season is nothing less than a synodal experience that involves the whole Church in prayerful listening to God’s Word and in a profound interior discernment of God’s will for us.

On Ash Wednesday the Church listens to St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, where he teaches:

Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Our salvation is not at some distant time in the future. Now is the day of salvation, and we are called to journey together now on the road that leads to the paschal mystery of our Redeemer’s passion, death and resurrection. 

As Church, we are reclaiming the ancient idea that we are a synodal community, a gathering of God’s people who travel together following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving strengthen our desire to be in communion with God and to live not for ourselves but for the sisters and brothers who travel with us.

Click here to continue reading Cardinal Tobin’s column Rejoice in the Lord.