I recently attended a three-part Lenten Retreat led by Father Thomas Dragga, pastor of The Church of the Resurrection in Solon, Ohio.  This is a reflection on his talk at St. Clements’s Catholic Church that I attended last week.  

He began by talking about Flannery O’Connor.  She was a distinctive author who grew up as a Roman Catholic in Georgia.  He began his talk with her quote.  “to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw a large and startling figure”.

He asked us to think about this by asking, who do you know that does this?  He SHOUTS and draws a starling figure.  Who is He?          He says “STAND UP!  LOOK! “He says “WATCH OUT!  BE ON ALERT                                                                                                     “Who Is He?  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christ tells us to “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day may catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.  For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand up before the Son of Man” (Lk 31:34-35)

Father Dragga told us that this reading comes from the gospel from the 1^st Sunday in Advent.  As he spoke, I wondered what this has to do with Lent.  He gently reminded us that during Lent we ponder many things, we give alms, we fast, we pray, and we seek to reconcile our sins.  We are drawn back to the beginning so we can reflect on where we have been, where we are right now and where we are going in the future.  Is it not Jesus who tells us to be on guard, to stand up and to look?  He pointed out that it is Christ that tells us to be on guard, to stand up and to look. 

But first we must step back in order to find redemption. This is the premise that we need to comprehend.  Seeking reconciliation uses that same premise, we must first step back and reflect.  Luke’s gospel tells us just that!  We can then ponder on what are the things that makes us who we are as well as what we are.  At the end of this discourse Jesus emphasizes that every Christian needs to be vigilant; we do not know the hour or the day that He will come.  Therefore, we must always be trying to God’s will.  Vigilance consist of making a constant effort not to be attached to the things of the world.  

St. Luke’s gospel also tells us to “Be on guard so our hearts are not weighed down” There can be so many things that hold us down today.  Father Dragga emphasized that “Legion’s List is Long” It encompasses Hedonism, Minimalism, kids being bullied, fear, war, crime, same sex marriage, the demise of the family unit, the slaughter of the innocent child in the womb and the state of our very own church in lieu of the sex abuse by clergy, 

Father went on to remind us that there is so much in this world today that catches us off guard.  Such as Institutions living in a spirit of mistrust, people have become divided, and attendance of Mass has continued to fall to the rate of less than 23%.  In the past most, Catholics went to Mass at least weekly, now the national level is about once a month, if that. Father Dragga stressed to us that those who are diligent and attend Mass faithfully are the remnant and we have a job to do.

He asked us, when things happen like this, do we call out to God and say, “Be with me Lord, when I am in trouble, be with me Lord I pray?”  When we go to Mass on Sunday do, we leave all our troubles at the door or do we carry it to the altar?  He challenges us to stand up and to stay here and remain here with Him as we enter in His presence.

I pondered this notion, do we simply cast out all the chaos that abounds which is perpetrated by the great deceiver?  Jesus challenges us by saying, “Do not turn away” and “Do Not Hide” because as we embrace the reality of human suffering, we can experience the nearness of God. We are called to keep the Faith alive within us.  There is a seed of love that is planted by Christ within us that blossoms forth: for Faith lets us believe despite our suffering and pain.  It may never be easy for us and we can call on Him in our distress and say, ‘Be with me Lord when I am in trouble, be with me Lord, I pray”

With his great insight, Father gently led us to the notion that when we do this during Lent, we have 40 days to slow down long enough to let us take a breath and look beyond ourselves and to consider the needs of others.   He alluded to that fact there is no denying that the world is in trouble. The faithful are called to be in solitary with others and engage in sacrifice so our house might be put in good order. (Kings 20:1) Yes, our world is out of order and the institution of the Catholic Church is a steady ship at sea rocking in the wind. 

During Lent we must ask ourselves, ‘What’s going on here?”  It takes great faith to walk through the doors of our church and seek an answer about “why are things this way today?”  I ponder the idea that many of us may leave our troubles at the door or we freely can embrace the fullness of the church and lay it at the foot of the cross.

Father went on to remind us that It takes great faith to come in with all the baggage you can carry on your back.  It takes great faith to be intentional in our action, words and deeds.  We must be intentional in our actions and come inside and know that Jesus will save us.  Jesus is the way and Jesus is the answer for the world’s problems today.  Once inside be intentional about what you place on the altar, for there are so many mistakes, scandals and mishaps that takes place. 

He affirmed that it takes great faith to walk in and know that somehow, someway things can be different.  When we enter community and in the presence of the Divine without any doubt there is indeed a difference that can be made.  At times it is hard to hear.  Noise drowns out the Angels who beckon to us.  At times we may hide from the present, to the pain and chaos in our lives. This is when we must take two steps backwards in order to move one step forward.  Think of it in this way, we are still moving forward in the right direction!

Father Dragga continued to reveal that It takes great faith to celebrate the Liturgy and realize that as we gather, we are called to mercy. We are invited to pray by the Priest.   There is a moment of silence that precedes this.  This is for all of us.  It takes great faith to bring our prayers and intentions no matter how great or small through that door.     It takes great faith to ask for help, to pray for those who are in need and to lay it on the altar. He asked, “what is your intentional prayer?”  

He professed that it takes great faith to come to weekly Mass and ask yourself, “What do I bring to Mass?”  He reminded us to offer a prayer, an intention of what you want to do.  Telling us that we need to be intentional in our faith.  We must have the intention to gather together in community with one another.  When we do this, we can come to a greater fruition.  

He asked us to examine our hearts and ask what is it that we pray for?  As he asked this question he went to the back of the church and stood on a pew shouting to those in the front, “Sometimes we need to draw large and startling pictures so that all can see.  We need to be deliberate in our actions for the deaf cannot hear and the blind cannot see.  Look!  It takes great faith.  Somehow, someway what you do is going to make a difference in someone else’s life.  There is no doubt that at times our faith is weak, and we can make it stronger when we place all our trust in Him.  We can come to Christ in our meekness, sinful and sorrowful.  We can come and put it into His hands and Trust in Him and know that things will change in His way and in His time according to His will.  You can complain about your trials or you can pray, you gave me this trial and I’m giving it back to you on this altar today.  Help me along the way”

He then asked us to write down our special intention and prayer for this day, for ourselves, for someone in need and to bring it to the altar and put it in a basket where our intentional prayers would be prayed for.  At times it can be hard for us, I thought.  Life can be discouraging amid whatever weighs us down.  These things can either sink us or we can lift it up to the Lord in prayer by saying, ‘Be with me Lord, when I am in trouble”

 Next, Father reminded us that we can take every thought captive to Jesus Christ and cast down every thought not of Him.  If it’s not a loving thought, an encouraging thought cast it out.  Then do as the scriptures say, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matt 7:12) When we do this it trains our minds to be Christ centered and then the mind of Christ begins to grow in our thoughts, words and deeds.

It takes great faith to ask the Lord to put his arms around our shoulders and to put His hand across our mouths.  For at times we can become so burdened that we become vulnerable and helpless and our actions and words may not be pleasing to Him.  It is during those times that we must put a guard over our mouths. During these times ask yourself, ‘What am I saying?”  When Christ says we can have whatsoever we say, He means “Watch your conversation”.  May sure that you are only saying what the Lord would have you say.  When you talk with friends do you gossip and judge others?  Do you rehearse your problems and say things that feed doubt?  Do you talk about the problems of the world, about politician’s and what going wrong with the world today?  Do you ask God to with you when you are troubled? 

God gave us free will.  We can pray or we can worry about it.  When you don’t let go and let God your focus begins to be on the power of the enemy over your life.  Instead speak of the great things God is doing in your life.  Savor the small moments, be thankful and give Him praise.  Focus on Him and His power.  Stand up and speak about His promises over your life.  Speak about life in Christ and the love and mercy of Christ that goes beyond human understanding.  

It takes great faith to pray and take our worries to the foot of the Cross.  Pray in the spirit over the situations going on in your life and in the world in faith.  As you pray in the spirit and when you pray in community with others it makes you stronger.  Use your God given authority over the situations in prayer.  

Most importantly Father Dragga declared that It takes great faith to walk in love and to forgive.  Don’t let un-forgiveness contaminate your faith.  Faith works by love, guard your love, walk by guarding your heart with all diligence and in an intentional manner.  Out of it flow the issues of life.  Stay plugged into God’s love.  At the Last Supper Christ reminds us of the new commandment, I give you a new commandment:^* love one another as I have loved you.” 

IT TAKES GREAT FAITH….