Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

March 29, 2003

by Rev. Herbert Nichols

 

Be brief. Be blunt. Be gone. Whether or not those were his exact words that was the advice given by a renowned preacher, Father Ronald Knox. And sometimes that might be the best way to approach the sacrament.

For those who confess regularly and reflectively, it’s like a morning shower, get in, do what you have to and get out. But there are other times when a more extended period of spiritual direction and examination might be more appropriate, like a hot summer evening when you just want to fill the tub or pool and soak.

Even the scriptures give examples of both. There is the tax collector, Levi, and the penitent thief on the cross, Dismas, who were reconciled to God instantly; because their hearts responded with love and without restraints.

But the prophet Hosea tells us: “Strive to know the Lord.” Strive. Put all your heart and soul and guts into it. To strive requires time and effort and a bit of gentle straining and a lot of trust.

There is a classic novel, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery, describing a conversation between the little prince and a fox. The fox greatly desires a friend so each day he asks the little prince if he will sit a little bit closer to him and to come at the same hour so that he will know at what hour to begin getting joyful.

No, this is not the story of Little Red Riding Hood, this is a story of a bonafide friendship and a trust that develops and grows. The story suggests that such intimacy and trust require commitment. How committed would we be if asked by God to come to the tabernacle at the same hour every day, and each day to sit a little closer. That's the kind of trust God is asking of us that we might know his friendship.

Lent is a good time to dip into the well or the pool or tub and soak up intimacy with God. To set aside ,a little bit more time each day to be with him, whether before the tabernacle or literally in the tub­, and reflect on how my friendship with Jesus is deepening, or isn't, ­and what am I going to do about it.

Hosea goes on to compare the presence of God to the gentleness of spring rain. I think we all know or will soon know how desperately we need a good soaking spring rain or we are going to suffer a parching drought this summer­. But that will be nothing compared to the parching drought if we don't take time to develop intimacy and friendship with God now.