THE RAINING SEASON OF MERCY

"Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

"And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Luke 23:42-43). 

The rainy season is the most lovely climatic period of the year. It rains regularly during this time, liberating the atmosphere from the haze, heat, and scorching of the last dry season. Then, people find relief, plants regenerate, and nature comes back to life. 

The rainy season is also called: spring in Europe, the green season in America, monsoon in India, or wet season in Africa and other places. The rainy season in the Catholic Church is called Lent. 

Now, what is Lent, how is it observed, what is its purpose, and what is its finality?  Follow me - "You will Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

1. LENT 

Lent is a solemn period of 40 days in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, set aside to commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11), and during which he resisted and overcame all the temptations by Satan.  

This season is observed, not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but also in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental Orthodox, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and the United Protestant Churches, as well as in some  Baptist and nondenominational Christian churches. 

 In the Roman Catholic Church Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated. Sundays are not included in the 40 days lentern calendar. This year, therefore, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 and ends on Saturday, April 16, 2022. 

The last week of Lent is known as Holy Week. It starts with Palm Sunday - when is commemorated the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem (Luke 19:36-40); and ends with Easter Sunday - when the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is commemorated (John 20:1-20). 

The remaining calendar of the Holy Week includes: Holy Thursday - when the Last Supper is commemorated (Luke 22:7-20), Good Friday when the crucifixion of Jesus is commemorated (Luke 23:33-48); and Holy Saturday - when the Easter Virgil is celebrated.  Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday form the Easter Triduum.

2. CONCORDANCE 

The period of Lent is the rainy season of Mercy because it is  characterized by an extraordinary and clearly superabundant dispensation of mercy in the Church. In fact, all the channels are opened - and left open, for mercy to flow continuously throughout the season. These include: fasting, the way of the cross, confession, penance, sacrifice and many more. 

So as the rains, snow and showers fall from the sky to wash away the dust from the trees, roads and roofs, so does blood and water flow from the Wounds of Jesus to wash away sins from the Church. And as the rains fall to water and restore fertility to the soil and life to plants, and relief to human beings, so does the blood of Jesus purify and sanctify sinful souls to flourish in the Love and Grace of God. 

So as the rains fill the streams, rivers and seas to overflow with water, so does the mercy of God flow and overflow to save sinners. And just as the villagers no longer go to fetch water from the far away springs, but collect water from their roofs, so too parishioners no longer go to the bishops for confession but the bishops and their vicars come to the parishes to dispense the mercy of God.

THE RAINING SEASON OF MERCY NEEDS NO UMBRELLA 

3. CONTRADICTION 

Despite their many similarities, however, the raining season of mercy is different from the rainy season of the weather - because the mercy of God is raining non-stop throughout the season -  unlike in the former, where it doesn't rain all the days. 

Moreover, in the rainy season of Mercy people do not act in the same as they do in the rainy season of the weather.

During the rainy season of the weather we acquire umbrellas, rain boots, rain coats and warm dresses to cover the body. But in the raining season of Mercy we discard everything that covers our sins and lay our souls bare to washed in the blood of Christ. 

During the rainy season of the weather we roof our houses, lay pipes and dig gutters to conduct rain water away. But in the raining season of Mercy we open our heads (mind) and our hearts (feeling) for the blood of Jesus to enter into  us  -  temples of God  -  to purify and sanctify. 

During the natural rainstorms we hide ourselves away but during the raining season of Mercy we, instead, run into the showers of mercy  - as naked as the innocent kids - to bathe in the blood of Jesus Christ, which takes away sins. 

Finally, the rainy season of Mercy is also  from different from the dry season of Mercy;  that is,  the other seasons of the Church's liturgical year.

During the raining season of Mercy - as opposed to the dry season of Mercy: - two things happen : 

(1) Mercy comes to look for sinners, instead of sinners to go looking for Mercy: "Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34) 

(2) Mercy is superabundant, instead of being lacking:: "Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Luke 23:43)

4. OBSERVANCE 

DONATE TO SUSTAIN OUR WORK, UPGRADE  BLOG, AND REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE 

During Lent the liturgical colors of the Church change to purple - this signifies death and renewal. This is the same signification with the marking of the cross on the foreheads of Christians with ashes, by the priests, on Ash Wednesday, saying "From dust you came, and unto dust you shall return". This reminds Christians of the mortality of their bodies, and of the need for them to mortify the flesh in order to live in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 3:3-4). 

The Church obligates to all Christians to fast and abstain from bodily pleasures and eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The execution of the Stations of the Cross - a devotional commemoration of the Passion of Christ - is observed every day in the churches  except on Sundays. 

The churches remove flowers from their altars and veil crucifixes, religious statues that show the triumphant Christ, and other elaborate religious symbols in violet or purple fabrics in the solemn observance of the season. The choirs also suspend the singing of joyful songs during especially the Gloria and  Alleluia. 

5. PURPOSE 

"At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. So he got up and started back to his father. “He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him." (Luke 15:17-18,20) 

The purpose of lent is to help Christians to examine their lives very deeply, so as to repent and come back to God. Thus, as the parable of the prodigal son explains, Lent is the time of coming home to God, in response to his infinite love and mercy. 

This journey of homecoming concerns us all because as the scriptures says, "Everyone has sinned and is far from God's saving presence " (Romans 3:23). And the warning is also very stern: "if you do not turn away from your sins you will die" (Luke 13:3). 

Yet the hope is  greater for the "prodigal sons",  as it is written : " But if you confess your sins to God he will keep his promise, and do what is right. He will forgive your sins and purify you of every wrong doing" (1 John 1:9). 

And this is not all - the scripture also says: "if you repent, God will hear your prayers and bless you abundantly (2 Chronicle 7:14) and that, "The angels in heaven rojoice when one sinner is converted" (Luke 15:10). 

How wise, then, is for us all to act as smartly as the prodigal son (Luke 15:17-20) in this golden season of Lent  - the raining season of Mercy. 

 6. ACTION 

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, mortifying the flesh, confession of sins, almsgiving, simple living, and self-denial, penance. In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in imitation of Jesus Christ's sacrifice during his journey into the desert for 40 days. These forgone consumptions are accumulated and given to the Church, for charity at the end of the Lenten season. 

Besides the Stations of the Cross, other prayers prayer devotions practiced intensely by groups and individuals in the church are the Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy and Precious Blood chaplets. Through these devotions - centered on the life and passion of Christ - devotees obtain mercy, sanctification, and many other favors and blessings from God; for themselves, for others and for the Church.

7. FINALITY 

The finality of the lentern season is the sanctification and renewal of the Church as a community of faith. This is the result of an systematic self-examination and of intensive communion with Christ through the regular meditations on his passion and death on the Cross. 

Then the faithful die to themselves, to live their lives in God, through Christ Jesus  (Colossians 3:3-4). This reunion with God profits the repentee with the restoration, blessing and celebration of a new life in the resurrection with Christ (Matthew 27:25-53) - the merciful and compassionate Lord of our Salvation. (Luke 15:21-24). 

The hope and counsel is for the faithful to maintain the same communion with Christ after Lent, in order that they may never depart again from the glorious presence of God. AMEN. 

Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT - "The Catholic Front Line Community™" Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com 

Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved