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 An Olympic Lent

 

            The Olympic Winter Games have just ended. Both the medal-winning champions and the beaten competitors told how they prepared for these games: rigorous and regular training, severe diet... they do not say this in order to be complained about: the sacrifices made did not make them unhappy; they were happy, on the contrary, to be able to prepare to participate in the Games.

            At Easter, we celebrate Jesus' victory over sin and death. To participate in this victory, the Church offers us a time of training. It lasts forty days. It is called Lent. It has a small part of diet. It requires regular training in the prayer life. It also invites gestures of sharing.

            We are not aiming for the gold medal. Jesus has already won it for his entire team. But we can take a seat in his team. We do not seek to break records, but only to ensure, through penance, prayer and sharing, a true quality of human and spiritual life, which so many people seek today.

            Jesus showed us the way. He fasted. He prayed. He was attentive to the needs of those he met, sick, crowds without food.

Following him, let us grant ourselves this time of Lenten training, with our brothers and sisters, in the shared joy of the march towards Easter.

 

Father François Maupu

international spiritual advisor.