Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
Why would anyone want to become a Catholic today? In many of our parishes there is an opportunity to find out answers to that question this Easter. There is a large number of people preparing to be baptised or to be received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil and to celebrate with us the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist. Why they have chosen to do this will be a personal choice for each one of them but whatever their reason, each person will be expressing something of their relationship with Christ. They have chosen to continue and develop their relationship with God in and with the Catholic community.
On Wednesday we enter into the season of Lent – a time to take stock and assess our growth in the Christian life. We are called to prayer, fasting and acts of generosity to those in need. Lent is a time for renewal.
In the early days of the Church, the Lenten season was, and still is, a time for the catechumens – those preparing for Baptism. They examined their lives in the light of Christ and asked him to enlighten the areas of darkness and sin they found within themselves. They were conscious not only of their personal lives but whatever was dark or oppressive within society. They knew that to be a Christian was to take responsibility for themselves and also the well being of others.
What was good for the catechumens was soon seen as being good for the whole Christian community. Today the season of Lent is for all the Church. In honesty we recognise where we fall short in our Christian vocation and lifestyle. We all look to see where there is darkness and alienation in our relationship with God, one another and the wider community. We acknowledge our responsibility for the common good and the well being of creation.
We enter into Lent with a seriousness of intent but not a gloomy face. Lent leads to Easter when we celebrate new life and freedom – our new lives, our freedom. These gifts are ours because we have followed Christ more faithfully. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the One who heals the alienation within us. Lent is a time to rediscover our relationship with Christ. Lent is a time to know afresh that we are loved by God who makes all things new and calls us to share in his work of renewal.
At Easter it is not only the newly baptised and those received into Full Communion with the Church who are able to say why they are Catholics, we should all be able to say so. Our answers will be many but all given as an expression of faith arising from a renewed relationship with Christ. In Christ we will be challenged but to who else can we go, because his words are life giving. And his words, his presence is found within the Church, the Body of Christ.
May the season of Lent be a time of new discoveries for us all. May God in Christ continue to uncover his face to us. With my best wishes and prayers Bishop of Clifton
To be read and / or made available in all Churches and Chapels in the Clifton Diocese on the fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 and 3 February 2008
This can be seen on the Diocesan website