Ashes, Hell, Ask, Seek, Knock, Clean out, Election...

Sometimes, everything comes together in ways that only God can make happen, and it seems I'm headed down the path to one of those spiritual revelations.

On Ash Wednesday, Fr. Gene's homily was simple. The point was this: Give up whatever you want. Or don't. Lent is about figuring out how to get out of your personal hell.

Really, the way to get out of personal hell (or literal hell) is to turn to God. My favorite Lenten hymn says, "Come back to me with all your heart. Don't let fear keep us apart." In "giving up" something for Lent, we're really being called to surrender it all to God.

At the prayer service for the HCHS retreat on Saturday, Mama T talked about Ask, Seek & Knock. Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. All we have to do is ask. God will give it to us.

Tonight, at Youth Ministry, we talked about Lent. Specifically, we talked about fasting -- giving up something for Lent, or taking on something, and the real purpose. The real purpose is to empty all the junk out of the God-shaped spaces, holes, crevices, cracks in our lives, and to take on those things that will help us draw near to God, so God can fill those spaces.

Tonight is also the Rite of Election. And it is in the Rite of Election that we celebrate that God has chosen us. Long before we chose God.

Figure out what is holding you in your personal hell.
Surrender it to God. Give it up. Clear out the junk.
Ask God to fill the spaces in your life.
Seek ways to draw closer to God.
Knock, and the door will open. Because God has already chosen you.
It's going to be a good Lent...