LENT, A TIME OF BLESSINGS

Every Lent is a grace that the Lord God bestows upon us. Through Lent and the Easter season, God renews his blessings, and each liturgical season is an opportunity to receive his graces.

A blessing is like a shower of gifts; it is a special moment when we receive God’s care in a particular way. God showers us with gifts. Yet He does not limit Himself to small gifts that merely delight our senses, like a sweet for a child. We know that a child cannot live on sweets alone, for fear of lacking the nutrients needed for their growth. They need a solid and balanced diet. God, having given us everything, gives us his crucified Son: the greatest of blessings, the most precious gift. Through the cross of Christ we receive eternal life.

In the Gospel of Luke (5:1–11), Jesus showers Peter with His blessings. Peter had gone out to fish; that was his trade. If he were African, one might say that perhaps he had a ‘contribution’ he had to pay the following day and so needed this catch to bring in some money. Perhaps he had a sick child who needed medical treatment. By morning, he had caught nothing. Jesus was there preaching; and he asked Peter for a favour – his boat – and to take him out into the deep. Perhaps Peter wanted to go home to his family; he might have been tempted to refuse Jesus’ request because of his own concerns. But he listened to Jesus. He listened to his Word. He obeyed him. Putting God’s Word into practice is the true path of life with Jesus, which does not stop at taking Peter’s boat. He asks him to put out into deep water and cast his nets; and there Peter objects: ‘We’ve been toiling all night and haven’t caught a thing.’ He reasons for a moment, then recovers, saying: ‘But at your word, I’ll cast the nets.’ ’ And when he casts the net, he catches a great many fish. By doing what Jesus asks, he receives an abundance of blessings. If you want to receive God’s blessings, live by His Word.

A lack of faith in God’s blessings

There are times when we complain. ‘I live only for you, Lord; so much hardship for your sake!’ We may come to see our sacrifices for Jesus as a waste of time, feeling as though we are doing too much. Yet this passage shows us that Jesus cares not only for our souls, but also for our bodies. Jesus is not indifferent to Peter’s life. He showers him with blessings beyond his expectations. Peter calls on his friends in the other boat to help haul in the fish. Thus, those who serve Christ are showered with blessings that surpass all understanding, and others benefit from them too. Did not Saint Paul say: ‘To him who is able, through the power at work within us, to do far more than we can ask or imagine’ (Eph 3:20)? There is no loss when we serve Jesus. Rather, we are winners. When Jesus took the time to preach from Peter’s boat, Peter might have felt he was wasting his time (just as you may often feel you are wasting your time on your spiritual activities or acts of charity). Peter teaches us patience. Sometimes in the Church, in the parish or in a group, someone grows spiritually and commits themselves, but then loses heart because, when faced with difficulties in their life, they lack patience. Peter, for his part, expected no reward when he served Jesus. Yet what blessings flow from his gesture, from his self-surrender! Obeying God is a source of blessings. God’s providence is at work in our lives.

The Lord God promises us blessings, and Lent is the time that prepares us for them. Do not neglect this Lent. The Lord showers us with material blessings, but ultimately with eternal life. Jesus told Peter to put out into the deep, and Peter caught a great many fish. Then he called him to follow him. Peter did not hesitate, for he already knew that he would receive greater graces than the fish he had caught. The season of Lent is an opportunity to have a profound experience of life with Jesus. May my prayer, my living out of God’s Word, and my love grow ever deeper. Seek him through faithfulness to the activities that nurture the faith.

Henri Bayemi