Since formulating our Lenten resolutions on Ash Wednesday last week, we have struggled with resisting temptations to sin, every single one of us - from the children to the parents. Actually, it almost feels much harder than usual to make the right choices. Hmm.. Seriously, though - how truly hard it is to renounce several of these bad habits which have obviously become vices - too hard to shake off.
One noteworthy comment we got from Webster, our eldest, is: "Howcome things seem to be extra hard this Lent, compared to last year?" And of course, we had to discuss that, because God deigns for us to continue to learn more and more about our faith over time, and He gives us the grace to see our faults and realize the right things to do, we cannot simply keep going the way we are, especially if we know that we have a lot of improving to do - particularly in our practice of the faith. Besides, through life's experiences, God always calls us to do better. And as He calls, He also equips.
CROWN OF THORNS
In an effort to illustrate to the kids the effects that our sins and offences have on Jesus and our personal relationship with Him, we did a beautiful craft based on a brilliant book called "A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families" (Monica McConkey). The Crown of Thorns was made out of dark-coloured dough baked in the oven with toothpicks as the "thorns." And I must say the finished product turned out very well. It is a good enough size for it to look as realistic as we could manage. This was important so that the kids can somehow visualize that it would have been quite painful for Jesus to have a crown of thorns forced on His Head.
Because we are aiming to fulfill our Lenten resolutions, any sacrifices, little triumphs over self-will, good deeds and acts of virtue will earn one a chance to pull out a thorn from the crown, effectively making it less "ouchie" for Jesus. Of course it is the ultimate goal to pull out as many thorns as we can throughout Lent. Come Easter, we hope to have no thorns left, and instead, fill the holes with flowers and jewels, making it into a beautiful Crown of Resurrection to give to Jesus!
At the moment, the Crown of Thorns graces the centre of our dining table, teamed up with 3 huge nails - to remind us of the price the Saviour had to pay to ransom each of us from eternal damnation rightly deserved by our sins. This is becoming a great talking point, especially during family meals. It facilitates talks about where we are in the practice of our resolutions, allowing us to give each other affirmation and encouragement, where needed, and to keep going in spite of the struggles that God allows each of us face.
Lent is, indeed, a wonderful time to learn about different virtues, asking our Lord and Our Lady for the grace necessary to develop them, and being sensitive to opportunities that we encounter in our everyday lives to practice such virtues. These, for us, would make for a truly meaningful Lent; although at the moment it feels like we are all failing these challenges - rather dismally. Certainly it seems that if we are not holding fast to the faith that we have been made partakers of, I'm sure we would have given up at the outset.
However, this is exactly the essence of observing Lenten practices: to allow us to come to a firm realization that we cannot achieve anything without God's grace. Without His love and mercy, we cannot be sanctified. And this is what is so beautiful and comforting about life, no matter how difficult things may seem. As long as we have faith, we will never lose hope and as long as we have hope, life goes on - with God's loving, merciful and abiding grace.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (Romans 5:20).
He Who created us without our help will not save us without our consent. - St Augustine
The world today is tearing up the photographs of a good society, a good family, a happy individual personal life. But the Catholic Church is keeping the negatives. And when the moment comes when the world wants a reprint, we will have them. - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
