From Father Scott – Climbing the Mountain This Lent

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis Solanus,

I hope that you are having a spiritually healthy Lent thus far. Many of us remember the “lentiest” Lent ever. Five years ago, we experienced the shuttering of our churches. Doors were locked, and no public Masses were allowed. It was a time of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. In many ways, we still see the effect that experience had on the way we do many things. Our public gatherings still have not recovered to the numbers we had before COVID. Many people who stopped going to Mass during COVID have not returned. While this page could be full of the negative side of this “lentiest” Lent, I would ask that you examine the question, “Where do we go from here?”

As I said last week, I am looking at this being my “holiest” Lent ever. Being my first Lent as a priest, it is not a stretch to expect it to be my “holiest” Lent yet. Getting to offer the sacrifice of the Mass every day, praying the stations on Friday, all draw me into the spirit of Lent, but this is all accomplished at the base of the mountain. Like Peter, James, and John, Jesus is calling us to go up the mountain with Him. He is drawing us to be closer to Him than we have ever been to reveal to us what we can only see if we commit to do the work of climbing the mountain.

I describe my spiritual life as being one who circled the base of the mountain. I have circled the mountain many times in my 62 years, never wanting to begin the climb. Content to wander around and around, knowing there is a God but never knowing God. That all changed four years ago when I left the comfort of my job and home to enter seminary. It was a long and hard discernment and one which I questioned as I began the climb in the form of studying philosophy. I began to think I hadn’t heard God calling me to follow Him. Perhaps I wasn’t going to be able to make the climb. It was hard and was getting harder.

Putting one foot in front of the other, I kept climbing as I kept listening. I heard “follow me,” then I heard “take up your cross,” then I heard “deny yourself.” And so here I am, ready to experience my Holiest Lent yet!

How is God calling you to climb the mountain to have your “holiest” Lent yet? Perhaps you are being called to the seminary like I was. But for most, it may not be that dramatic, yet it is no less important. The impact this Lent can have on your life depends on you being willing to begin the climb, one foot in front of the other. Not trusting in your own ability to climb but trusting that God will get you where He wants you.

I hope you will participate in the many offerings we have at St. Francis Solanus to assist you as you climb the mountain. Daily Mass, Confession, Rosary for Peace, Stations of the Cross, Soup Suppers, and our Parish Mission starting with Conference One Monday evening. Times are all listed in the bulletin.

When we reach the mountaintop, may we all hear God say, “This is my chosen Son, listen to Him.”

Fr. Bruce Scott