Father Erik’s Letter

February 19, 2021

Dear CTK parishioner,

Lent has begun, but not in the way we expected. The snow disruption was more fun than most disruptions over the last year. I expect, however, that we Arkansans have had enough of the snow now.

I thought Lent was a good time to send another email and speak about this beautiful time of year. Lent seems to capture our attention for spiritual matters like nothing else and I want to offer a suggestion for a fruitful 40 days. I spoke of this during my live streamed homily for Ash Wednesday, but I want to elaborate a little more.

During that homily I recommended a commitment to silence as a daily practice for Lent. Silence has long been understood as a key to hearing the voice of God and yet remains one of the most difficult practices for those who pray. Our minds are so easily distracted and our time so quickly used up that many of us never stay with it too long.

What stood out to me from the readings of Ash Wednesday was the line from the prophet Joel, “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” The word rend indicates a breaking, even a violent one. This is not a pleasant experience in most cases, but I suggest that the prophet speaks of a breaking free rather than a breaking down. Our hearts are easily drawn to many things that can be destructive or distracting from our deepest desire. St. Augustine captured this well in saying, “our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in you.”

My suggestion of silence is a suggestion to let God reveal the desires of your heart. I encourage you to commit some time to daily silence. This could be five minutes or more depending on how much you’ve practiced this before. In those few minutes you will quickly have many thoughts fill your mind. This is good, and I ask you to pay attention to what those thoughts are. What comes into your mind will reveal what your heart treasures, or what stands in the way. It will likely be past hurts, or current resentments. It will include distractions, temptations and busyness. Underneath such thoughts you will discover the God who made you and loves you.

To “rend your heart” is to acknowledge what first comes to mind and then intentionally surrender it to God. This practice needs repeating every day and can happen in a short amount of time. As you surrender whatever thoughts come you, give God permission to mold and shape you. With time God breaks away whatever holds you back. The rending of your heart results in freedom, in a pure heart, in healing and mercy. Nothing would be a better use of Lent.

As you become aware of what captures your mind, you could discover what needs to be given up for the remainder of Lent. As you let go, look ahead to Easter and the promise of new life that Jesus offers.

In families, quiet can be hard to come by. I recommend that you approach this silence together. Take those five minutes as a way to teach your children. Our world makes silence very difficult, but to teach your children to embrace moments of silence is an incredible gift. Sit down together and explain that it is not the quiet game. It is about listening within your heart where God speaks. Take your minutes together and then ask your children what comes into their heads. Whatever it is can be given to God so that we make everything in our lives less than God. Consider this a way to practice the first commandment and make God the real God of your family’s life.

There is no doubt that God has a gift for you this Lent and a desire for you to experience Easter as a transformation. Each of us faces various personal obstacles, but none of them are greater than the Lord who loves us. Part of their power in our lives is that we try to control or ignore them. God wants you to give Him every obstacle. He will show you the way and silence is the road less traveled. It is not too complicated or too difficult. God awaits.

Happy Lent!

In Christ,

Fr. Erik