Rooms for Renewal this Lent
Sacramentum is a series devised by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, exploring the sacraments of the Catholic Church and other aspects of parish life and Catholic devotion. In this reflection, Sr. Connie Harkin reflects on the Lenten season, and details the ways in which Lent can be a journey of spiritual renewal, drawing us to a closer relationship with Jesus.
Welcome aboard! We are about to embark on the Holy Season of Lent 2026. What is the Spirit of God calling forth in each of us? Many of you may recall the days of long ago, when we first became aware of the Lenten season as children. It was to be a time of “giving up” – and perhaps that meant giving up candies or a TV program. It was also typically a season when we “gave up” our time to more frequent attendance at Church.
The Season of Lent, beginning this year on February 18th, lasts six weeks. To many of us, even that seems a long time “to do without.” But as the years have gone by, we hopefully have gained a new awareness. Lent has instead become more a time of “giving” than one of “giving up.” It was once expressed that Lent, given the time of year at which it falls, really meant spring – new life. Could Lent also then be a time of renewal – of growing in friendship with the Lord Jesus? How might Lent foster in me a different outlook? How might it become my attempt at a closer relationship with Jesus?
We begin the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, when the priest places ashes on our foreheads to remind us of the penitential nature of this season. These ashes are made from burning the palm branches we received on Palm Sunday the previous year. Since the times of the early Church, the Christians wore these ashes, just as we do today, to recall our need for repentance – to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” We can begin our preparations for Lent by asking, what does “repentance” mean for me in 2026? Just recently, I came across a Catholic Update leaflet which helped me – and maybe will help you – to see Lent as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of repentance – of turning towards Christ.
The author, Father A. McBride. O, Praem., suggested that Lent can be a journey into the inner self. It is a wonderful invitation to stop, look and listen. One might ask how we can do this. Our lives are so busy – occupied with deadlines to meet, chores to be done, assignments to complete, and more. Yet out of the 168 hours in a week, can we find moments to renew that relationship which began, recently or many years ago, at our baptism?
Father McBride suggested that there are “rooms” within ourselves which, during Lent, may challenge us to deepen this turning to Christ. The first room is “to let go of fear.” We tend to look at our world and the conditions which disturb us tremendously. Even Nicodemus in John’s Gospel (3:1-21) may have exhibited some fear in coming to Jesus by night. Yet Jesus did not turn him away nor does He act that way towards us. How many times do we hear those words uttered by Jesus – “Do not be afraid!” or “Fear not for I am with you.” It is worth our while to ponder these words when fear or confusion would try to cripple or overcome us.
The second room presents us with much food for thought, even for our lives beyond Lent. Simply put but not always easy to acknowledge, it is “to find the love that is inside us”. Many incidents and encounters may try to diminish what the God of Love plants within us. It is worth spending some time with 1 Corinthians 13 – the renowned passage from St. Paul on the meaning of love, the virtue that surpasses all others in its merits. At the start of the day, consider how to practice one or two elements of this love, which is patient, kind, which does not envy or boast, does not easily anger, but rejoices with truth and always hopes and always perseveres. Then, at the end of the day, take a few moments to review how this love entered your day’s activities.
Lent is also a time of giving. St. Francis taught us “It is in giving that we receive”. We sing these words, but do we know what they entail? On this renewal journey of Lent, let us stay awake. At each celebration of the Eucharist, we are invited to become more like Him. We need only to gaze upon the Cross and grow in our understanding of “giving.” At each Eucharist, we remember that Jesus gave of Himself and we, in turn, are called to give to others – either in time, talent, or treasure.
A fourth room to be explored during Lent is to share inner peace. This takes courage, since all around us we encounter a world of sound and speed – from traffic, machines, commotion, voices and more. We respond to all these influences in our lives, but we must always look to One who modelled the desire for inner peace. Even Jesus, who was one with the Father, took Himself to a silent, deserted place in order to pray and to commune with God. We too have to find our desert, those moments of stillness when we can take the time to be tranquil. It was once said that “Quiet time restores energy.” During Lent, we may do well to become more attentive to the Word of God in those quiet moments. Are we willing to give ourselves permission to participate in such an “energy–building exercise”?
The last room which invites entrance would be to practice the art of meditation. Is this room only open to priests and religious? Indeed not! As we are all on the Journey of Lent, we are all called to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus. He is aware of our fears, worries, concerns, distractions which can hinder communication. Our conversations with Him invite us to be honest when listening to Him. Moreover, through meditation, we enter an environment where we can open ourselves to hear God speaking within our own hearts.
One of the practices we commonly exercise during Lent – either alone or in a group – is the Way of the Cross. Here we walk with Jesus on His last journey. We witness the greatest act of love. But this is not the end. After Good Friday, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. ALLELUIA! We are assured once more that we are not alone.
Lent is a time of new beginnings, and we are given the grace to celebrate it each year. Aided by the Holy Spirit, may this Holy Season invite us to grow and may the wisdom of these words by Father McBride echo in our being: “The more we die to our fears, our selfishness and the anxieties that block our awareness of God, the more Jesus will raise us to new life.”