I don’t know about all of you, but returning to Lent brings back a lot of memories. Shortly after Ash Wednesday last year, first the Mass obligation was lifted and then, there were no more public Masses. In some ways, it still feels like we never left last year’s Lent. It’s a bad dream that we are all still waiting to wake up from.
In some ways, I’m nervous to begin this Lent. What if something crazy happens this year too? How do we prepare for Lent when things are still different? Would it be better if we just skipped Lent altogether? I know, I’m being ridiculous and irrational, but let’s be honest, Lent 2020 was rough, very rough. I’ll just leave
it at that.
 
Now the question is—what does the Lord wish of us during Lent 2021? A return to the desert.
 
So, how do we return to the desert? We simplify and get back to the basics. This past year has shown us how much we have lost so many of the basics. As a priest,  I was stumbling around trying to think of what devotions to suggest for
parishioners to best prepare for a quarantined Easter. That is crazy. While the situation was anything but ordinary or expected, reflecting back, it is a little disappointing to recall how much I floundered. Our Catholic devotional
heartbeat isn’t beating as strongly as it should. 2020 highlighted that. But rather than let the past discourage us, let’s use it as encouragement to propel us to repent, and believe in the Gospel.  

I’d like to propose the following checklist for Lent 2021—A return to the desert.
 
· Pray for wonder of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. To truly know that Jesus died on the cross for each and every one of us.
 
· Examine your sins nightly with an examination of conscience.
 
· Begin the habit of at least monthly  Confession.
 
· Pray a morning offering prayer to  Consecrate your day to the Trinity & Mary.
 
· Pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent (and maybe beyond?).
 
· Never let a day go by without reading the  Bible and reflecting on God’s word.
 
· Challenge yourself to spend at least 10 minutes in silence with God every day.
 
· Extend Lenten meatless Fridays beyond Lent. We are still required to make some   sacrifice every Friday of the year. We are    encouraged to give up meat, so let’s do it.   Let’s sacrifice meat every Friday as a Pastoral Region.
 
It is time to get back to the basics and nourish our spiritual life so when our Lord calls, we can confidently join Him in proclaiming: This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Jeff