Holy Week

Lent has come and gone, and we are now in Holy Week, and I have written nothing.

That is how Lent has been this year-- empty. Sometimes we are spiritually empty so that we can learn something important. The message in this Lent has been forgiveness. We all have much to forgive and much to be forgiven of.  We pray as Jesus taught us: "forgive us as we forgive others". Do we really understand what that means? I know I don't. I know I pray it out of habit and don't really get it. Today I got it. I don't want to be forgiven in the way I forgive because I am not very forgiving. I want to be forgiven in a much better way, a nicer way, a kinder way. I want God to be easier on me than I am on others. But that is not what I ask when I pray "as I forgive others" and that is a scary thing! This year it took all of Lent for me to get the message, and I pray I can remember it and not push it aside tomorrow.

Let us remember this message with every Lord's Prayer we pray.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.


Pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in this Holy Week and always.

Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter.