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Destination: Jerusalem
By Kate Ristow

Think of all that you do to get ready for a trip. Planning, packing, and getting organized are as much a part of the process as the journey itself. It is the same with Lent. During these forty days, we are on our way to join Jesus in Jerusalem, readying ourselves for the reason we began our journey in the first place—to celebrate Easter, to die and rise with Christ through the Paschal Triduum.

Traditionally, we Catholics prepare for Easter by practicing the disciplines of fasting, almsgiving, and increased prayer. These practices help us respond to the call found in the Gospel from the First Sunday of Lent (Year B), which urges, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:12–15). Fasting and prayer remind us of our spiritual hunger for God, increase our desire to live as Jesus taught, and open us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds and hearts. Giving alms reinforces that we are called to share our time, talent, and treasure with others.

Through the Scriptures this Lent, we will meet others who traveled before us. The stories of Moses, Abraham, Jeremiah, and King Cyrus of Persia remind us that God calls us into a covenant relationship. The gospel readings make clear that this loving relationship reaches fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Following Jesus enables us to journey from darkness to everlasting light.

During Lent, we are aware that others, too, are on a journey—the catechumens who will be fully initiated into our community at the Easter Vigil. Their desire for new life in the waters of Baptism serves as a renewal of our own baptismal commitment and an opportunity to reflect on what Baptism means in our lives. Called to be an example for the catechumens, we find in them a mirror that reflects how we are living out our beliefs.

Ironically, for our Lenten journey, we need to unpack—to rid ourselves of the excess baggage that weighs us down and prevents us from focusing on our relationship with the Lord and the call to serve him always. Freed from external enticements and the busyness of life that cause us to wander from our path, we journey inward, confident that the Lord will lead us home.