During the weekend, I spent two or three hours cleaning my kitchen cupboard due to a small moth infestation. Very small moths had infiltrated containers like those for brown rice and barley. Similarly, sin can act in our lives, though we often deny its existence, thinking it does not apply to us—the imperfections within us. The Greeks conceived of sin as an 'archer missing the mark.' However, sin encompasses more than this, extending beyond the realities we see or choose to acknowledge. We have a penchant for darkness and shun the light, necessitating something beyond ourselves for transformation and healing, akin to me opening and cleaning everything within my kitchen cupboard, yet on a scale beyond human possibility. Intriguingly, the first words Jesus speaks in Mark's Gospel are 'Metanoia' or 'Change of mind.' This prompts us to question whether we change or are open to the unseen aspects of our lives. Lent calls us to embark on a journey of change, mirroring Jesus's 40 days in the desert. We, too, are summoned to navigate the deserts of our lives, though the path is arduous. Spending a few hours cleaning a kitchen cupboard is challenging, as is listening to perspectives divergent from our own, especially from those who anger us. We are beckoned to be Paschal people, following Jesus from darkness to light, from death to resurrection, and from brokenness to healing. Leonard Cohen remarked, 'There is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in.' We must not flee from sin or the concealed aspects of our lives, reminiscent of the tiny moths. It necessitates a profound exploration, not just of the surface but the underlying causes. Salvation emerges not from our solitary endeavors but through divine relationships. The story of the Prodigal Son reminds us, 'You are my child, and I love you.' This transcends mere intellectualization; human connection is essential. We are wired for relationships. The sacrament of reconciliation offers a tangible encounter with Jesus's healing presence, beyond mere thoughts or actions. God extends His love through the priest's hands, as in the Prodigal Son's tale, enveloping us. Ultimately, it's not about sin or our life's darkness but the depth of God's love for us.
Questions for further reflection
How does the metaphor of an archer missing the mark resonate with your understanding of sin?
Can you think of a time when you needed something beyond yourself for change and healing?
What does the term 'Metanoia' mean to you personally, and how have you applied it in your life?
Reflect on a personal 'desert' experience: what did you learn about yourself and your need for change?
How can listening to someone with a different perspective challenge and enrich your spiritual journey?
In what ways are you called to be a Paschal person, moving from darkness to light?
How does the concept that 'there is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in' apply to your life and spiritual beliefs?
How do you physically and spiritually engage with the idea that God's love is beyond human understanding and sin?
Reflect on these questions while listening to this song
Song - How Deep The Fathers Love For Us
Closing prayer
Gracious God, in the quiet of our hearts, we seek the courage to open the cupboards of our souls, confronting the hidden moths of sin and imperfection within us. As we journey through our personal deserts this Lenten season, grant us the grace of transformation and the strength to embrace change, listening to those voices that challenge us and walking from darkness into Your divine light. Help us to remember that it is not our flaws that define us, but Your boundless love and the healing embrace of community and sacrament. May we emerge from this time of reflection renewed, ready to walk in the light of resurrection, bearing witness to Your love in every step. Amen.
(Audio Available)
