Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA

CLEAN-UP TIME 

            Every year grace brings us to the season of Lent for us to embark on a special spiritual clean-up exercise. The state of things was awesome to behold at creation for the inspired writer tells us in today’s first reading that God created everything well. Out of the ground the Lord created a lot of good things.

            Firstly, the author to the book of Genesis states: “The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.”

Secondly the inspired writer goes on to state that: “Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

            Out of the ground God created good things for us. But what happened after creation? The devil came in and deceived our first parents. He took them away from God’s goodness and convinced them to choose evil. Since then all of humanity has been battling with sin and temptations that comes from the devil.

            Every day is a spiritual clean-up exercise for the Christian but the season of Lent is a special clean-up exercise which prepares us to celebrate the Easter festivities in purity of heart, mind and body.

            Lent invites us to the culture of abstinence if we are to perform an effective spiritual exercise. When the church invites us to fast, she invites us to abstain from certain things. We are so used to abstaining from food. Abstinence from food can be connected to some kind of spiritual empowerment and the money saved from buying food, one is encouraged to use it for works of charity.

            In our time as much as abstinence from food is recommended, we need to encourage ourselves to abstain from other bad habits. If a Christian can abstain from his/her bad ways for forty days, then it is possible that (s)he may be blessed with the gift of self-control. Can you pick one bad habit and practice the spiritual exercise of fasting on it? Are you the type who use bad words on a daily basis? You can make a Lenten resolution with these words of St Paul: “Do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Eph. 4:29).

            If one can abstain effectively from bad habits, then it is good for the person to share a life with Christ in prayer. Without grace no one can overcome sinful ways and habits. There are many examples in scripture to support the fact that it is only Christ who can bring effective transformation to one’s life. We recount to our memories with warmness the transformation that Jesus brought to Mary Magdalene, Matthew, Zacchaeus and many sinners. You can also invite similar transformation to your life if you encounter Jesus. Do not be passive, routine and ritualistic in your prayers but rather be active in your prayers. Pray with your heart, your mind and your whole body. Do not go to the church to pray whereby your body will be present but your mind and heart will be far away. Jesus wants to meet you when your whole being is present at prayer.

            As one abstains and pray effectively, (s)he should not forget to be charitable. The journey is not going to be smooth because as Jesus was tempted we also will be tempted but with the grace of God we will journey successfully to Easter joy.

            I would like to encourage you with the words of St Paul: “let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Rom. 12:9-12). I wish one and all a blessed Lenten season. As I pray for you please keep me also in your prayers. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.