Lent and “Letting Go Moments”

Last updated on: March 17, 2016 at 2:35 pm by Guest Contributor

Lent and “Letting Go Moments” 2016-03-17T14:35:55-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Sr. Mary Peter Martin, FSP

When I think of letting go, I picture the trees I saw in Italy on one of my visits. They had been cut back so severely that I assumed they were going to be cut down. When I returned later that spring I was thrilled to see these same trees blossoming with delicate leaves and fragrant blossoms. Those trees taught me a powerful lesson: sometimes we feel that we have been “pruned” so much that we won’t recover. However, cutting back, getting rid of extra growth, letting go, focuses all one’s energy into the new life that is to be born.

Lent is really about precisely this—focusing on new life. We die to the old self-centered ways, to bad habits, perhaps to ways of communicating that are destructive like constant complaining or sarcastic remarks, the list goes on and on and is unique to each one of us. Just as pruning makes a plant healthier, cutting back and letting go of bad habits helps our interior life to blossom. As we blossom, it is very satisfying to experience greater intimacy with God.
Jesus wants to fill our hearts with his love. We simply throw aside whatever keeps us from him. So this Lent, let go, give it all up…

One secret I have learned is that as we grow older we may find ourselves with fewer “bad” habits to let go of. Instead our days might be filled with things that occupy our time which are not bad in themselves, but which, so to say, weaken “the plant.” It might be excessive internet or cell phone usage which fills up more and more of our time fragmenting our attention.

Perhaps it is a type of television show or a particular magazine we read that is not bad in itself but which in some way is taking up the space and time which could be spent on those things that make our spirit more strong. Maybe it is a habit of acquiring possessions: what I have in my house that I wouldn’t dream of giving away or something online that I am determined to buy. What matters is this: Does this habit lead me to God or is it taking up time that I could use to give to a family member, or a friend, or prayer? Does it lead me to gratitude? Is it making me a better person all around? Do I feel free when I do these things? Or do I feel empty when I’m finished? What we can’t let go of, what we don’t use in freedom and gracious respect, somehow saps us of spiritual vigor. Pruning, letting go, although it is hard, allows our spirit to blossom once more.

I remember two women whom I met during my years of door-to-door evangelization. One woman in South Boston invited us into her home. She told us she was downsizing because, as she said, “I don’t have much time to live on this earth.” She spoke with serenity and confidence about the after life. Before we left she offered us a large punch bowl set since she knew she would no longer be entertaining guests. Another woman was struggling with having to sell her house and move to an assisted living facility. Pointing to her many knick-knacks she said bitterly, “How can I give all of these up? It isn’t fair that I have to give them away!”

Letting go of things happens more and more as we grow older, and if we are honest the opportunities are all around us. We have to let go when we leave one job and take up another, sell a house or empty an apartment, see children marry and move away, let go of a grudge we’ve carried all our life, reach out with affection to someone we dislike, or even when the doctor tells us, “No more salt!” Each of these “letting go” moments carry with them the promise of Spring.

Jesus wants to fill our hearts with his love. We simply throw aside whatever keeps us from him. So this Lent, let go, give it all up…anything and everything that makes you less free. Then God, the eternal Springtime of Hope, will cause your life to blossom and become fruitful in ways that you’d never imagine. It will all become worth it as Jesus takes up his home in you this Eastertide.

Sr. Mary Peter Martin entered the Daughters of St. Paul fifty years ago. Before the US bishops set up an office for evangelization, Sr. Mary Peter served for ten years on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Catholic Evangelization. Sr. Mary Peter has a Master’s in Religious Education from Boston College. When asked if she’d become a religious sister again she says, “I like to use the words of our founding Sister in the USA, Mother Paula Cordero: ‘If I had a hundred lives, I’d give them all as a Daughter of St. Paul.’

Become a Better Person

Previous Post

March 11, 2016

Young Messiah: Sign up for a Free Cinema Novena to the Holy Family

Next Post

March 21, 2016 Christological Battles Around "The Young Messiah"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which letter is addressed "to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James Jude 2 John Galatians