Encounter Christ Jesus through the Gospel and experience love

Friday, Mar. 13, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — About 300 people from throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City attended the diocesan Lenten retreat at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish March 7. 

Sister Linda Marie Bolinski, of the Congregation of Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Danville, Penn., was the retreat leader for the English session; Cecilia Von Bertrab, a professor of the Oblate School of Theology, led the Spanish session. 

The Diocese offers a Lenten retreat for a simple reason – to encourage people to pray, said Susan Northway, Religious Education director. “Prayer endures as one of the three essential Christian practices in this holy season. Good works arise from prayer. Fasting is a way for us to cut away the excess in our lives, detach ourselves from burdens and welcome conversations with God. When we allow God’s love to surround us, we become attuned to the needs of the poor. 

“This leads to giving alms,” Northway continued. “Pope Francis puts it beautifully: ‘Lent is a favorable time for letting Christ serve us so that we, in turn may become more like him.’ We are tempted in our weary indifference, but we long to reach out to others. Through Lenten prayer we journey forward with other pilgrims.”

The English session began the day in gratitude, sharing a blessing in small group settings.

“Lent is a time for blessings and we all have that experience of love, and Lent is God’s love story,” Sr. Linda said. 

Lent begins with a smudge of ashes on the forehead and then “we hear repent, pray, give alms, and fast,” she said.

“We need to encounter Jesus,” said Sr. Linda, quoting Pope Francis. “We do that through the Gospel and where we are in life,” she said. “We need to put our life and the Gospel in dialog with each other so we can hear the message and see what God does fresh for us. That is what his early followers did. When we realize that, we have that bit of joy to be the missionary disciples that we are called to be.” 

The participants used what Sr. Linda called “their own inner chapel,” through quiet reflection and group conversation.

Any journey has more than one way to get to the destination, she said. “On a journey, we may get lost or take the scenic route or a detour, but it’s not just the road we take, it’s what occurs along the way.” 

The Gospels were the disciples’ road markers, she said. 

“We enter into the gospels seriously; what was messy about Jesus’ crucifixion was our good news. The cross is essential; it is what brings us joy,” she said. 

People have joy when they know who they are and feel accepted; when they know life has a purpose and they are going someplace, Sr. Linda said. “They don’t have to feel confused.”

Jesus received God’s assurance, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). After Jesus heard this, he went into the desert for 40 days and was tempted by Satan, “with the things that harass us all of our lives,” said Sr. Linda, adding that obedience comes from the word to listen; “we have to have moments of revelation and insights.” 

In small groups, those attending the retreat reflected on a time when they heard God call them by name. 

“Sometimes we think it is luck, but it’s faith,” Sr. Linda said. “God accepts us as we are.” 

Part of Lent is reflecting on God’s love for the other as well as “where we need to let go,” Sr. Linda said. “We are all created in the image and likeness of God.”

Community is a part of our journey, she said. “During Lent we reflect on the fact that Jesus came for us; we share our stories.”

Whenever there is a meeting with Jesus, “there is dialog, an encounter and a mission,” Sr. Linda said.

In small groups, the participants shared about the Gospel readings: the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-25), Nicodemus (John 3:14-21), and the grain of wheat (John 12:20-33).

In the cleansing of the temple, Bart Chadaz said, “God over threw the temple; we need to let God clean our hearts and rebuild them.” 

For Nicodemus, Jennifer Kiejeski said, “Christ is the word and the light; let us be light for other people.” 

“We die to self and let go; the seed grows where it lands,” in the Gospel of the grain of wheat, Sr. Linda said. “Jesus sees himself as a seed; his mission is with God.”

In summary participants offered their comments.

Anna Kontas, a Saint Martin de Porres parishioner said the retreat was positive; “I enjoyed the quiet time and sharing with people,” she said. 

“It was good to take time out from our busy-ness, settle down and refocus on our direction before Easter,” said Craig Provost, a Saint Catherine of Siena Newman Center parishioner. 

Amy Lyman, a candidate from San Andres Parish, is experiencing her first Lent. “I have joy I never knew,” she said, as her voice cracked and her eyes began to tear. “I’ve learned what it means to sacrifice to get closer to God.”