A Lenten Course Correction

If our soul has a navigation system, such as GPS, the message we are likely to receive on Ash Wednesday is this: “rerouting.” As Pope Francis said in his 2021 Ash Wednesday homily, “Lent is not just about the little sacrifices we make, but about discerning where our hearts are directed…. Let me ask: Where is my life’s navigation system taking me — toward God, or toward myself?”

The “little sacrifices” we make during Lent may seem inconsequential; what difference does it really make if I turn off the radio while I’m in the car, limit my screen time or the amount of sugar I eat, do some spiritual reading, or make a donation to a food pantry? Such practices are more important than we might think, because they direct us away from our desire for distraction, self-satisfaction, and control and the belief that we are the center of the universe. When our vision isn’t clouded by our preoccupation with ourselves, we are more likely to see the signposts that lead us to the fulfillment of life with God.

Journeying toward God is only possible because, as Pope Francis said, “God first journeyed to us.” Jesus came to provide a custom-made navigation system to the kingdom of God, with the key components being love of God (expressed through prayer), love of neighbor (expressed through almsgiving/service), and  humility (expressed through fasting/surrender). Thus our Lenten practices serve as a course correction and lead us on a straight path to the heart of God.

The road is bound to be narrow at the outset, as Saint Benedict noted in his Rule; after following our own whims for so long, our new path can’t help but feel constrictive. However, our Lenten practices will guide us through tight turns and detours until we reach our destination at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday, where we are invited to share in the new life and boundless love of the risen Christ.