1 2 Reflections by the Benedictine University Community Lent 2021 Our community of students, faculty, and staff are excited to publish our fifth book of Lenten reflections. Our Benedictine Hallmark of Love of Christ and Neighbor calls us to grow in love this Lenten season. As you pick up this book each day, know you are united in prayer with the rest of our Christian community on campus. Listen to the voice of God speaking to you from the diverse and unified Body of Christ. Let this book, and with it God and Benedictine, travel with you on your Lenten journey. All readings can be found by date on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, www.usccb.org Lenten Opportunities with Campus Ministry Ash Wednesday: 12:00p on Zoom Sunday prayer: Sundays 7:00p on Zoom Stations of the Cross: Fridays at 12:00p on Zoom Catholic Relief Services Feast Friday meal kits: ben.edu/lent Palm Sunday Retreat available March 28 We encourage you to explore the options for worship (both in person and online) at your local church during Lent. There may be special services and events for Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and of course, Easter. If you need any assistance finding a community, email [email protected]. Cover art by Nida Ali ‘20 3 Table of Contents Click to go to that day Ash Wednesday (Feb 17) 4 Fourth Week of Lent February 18 4 March 14 24 February 19 5 March 15 24 February 20 6 March 16 25 March 17 26 First Week of Lent March 18 26 February 21 7 March 19 27 February 22 8 March 20 29 February 23 9 February 24 10 Fifth Week of Lent February 25 10 March 21 30 February 26 11 March 22 31 February 27 12 March 23 31 March 24 32 Second Week of Lent March 25 33 February 28 13 March 26 34 March 1 14 March 27 34 March 2 14 March 3 15 Holy Week March 4 16 March 28 36 March 5 16 March 29 37 March 6 17 March 30 38 March 31 38 Third Week of Lent April 1 39 March 7 18 April 2 40 March 8 19 April 3 42 March 9 20 March 10 20 Easter Sunday 43 March 11 21 March 12 22 March 13 23 4 Ash Wednesday | February 17, 2021 Joel 2:12-18 Psalm 51:3-14 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 “What do you want?” A traditional Catholic view of conversion is to see it as the train- ing of one's appetite. A person's appetite is revealed in what he or she wants and, so, this means that conversion is coming to want the right things in the right ways. It is not simply coming to see what one should want, but coming to actually want those things. So, here are some ques- tions that we might ask during Lent. To what degree do I find myself wanting bad things or wanting good things excessively? During Lent, how can I use practices of self- denial to weaken and overcome my wayward wants. How about what I want for other people? Those wants say some- thing important about my appetite. I should train or form my appetite, so that I sincerely want what is good for others. Then I will love my neigh- bor. During Lent, how can I practice works of mercy toward the needy, so as to train my appetite in this way? Then there is the most important question of them all: Do I want God? Do I want Him above all else? That is what the theological virtue of charity entails: wanting God more than anything else. How can I be a better practitioner of prayer, so as to train my appetite to want God with all my heart? Abbot Austin Murphy, O.S.B. Thursday after Ash Wednesday | February 18, 2021 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 1:1-6 Luke 9:22-25 Dt 30:15-20 “Today” is mentioned three times in this reading. This gives a feeling of urgency. "Today" is always the day to choose the Lord, to choose life and prosperity, to begin anew. If one wants to delay important decisions to tomorrow, they will be tempted to continue delaying those decisions to other tomorrows. When faced with the temptations of sin, or deciding when to go to church, always choose the Lord today. 5 People who worship God, love God and follow God will live, grow and be blessed. They are not tempted to break the other command- ments and not tempted to serve other gods. Moses calls witnesses to emphasize the importance of his message. There's a clear choice between life and death, but he says to choose life. Live a long, loving life by following the commandments and following God's ways. Remember that Heaven and earth are witnessing, and that God is always witnessing. Kristian Santiago ‘21 Friday after Ash Wednesday | February 19, 2021 Isaiah 58:1-9A Psalm 51:3-6, 18-19 Matthew 9:14-15 Cry out! The message within the readings tells us to do something that many may consider an intimidating task. Many of us have felt a desire to “say something” whether it be about an injustice we witnessed, a co- worker being unfairly treated, a fellow student being harassed or the re- cent issues brought to light in the news and across the nation. However, few of us have gone beyond the feelings and frustration of the moment and used our voices to CRY OUT! The readings tell us be the person that speaks truth to life even when speaking out places us against those close to us. Righteous indignation, a phrase used by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., calls on us to use our voices to friends, family and our commu- nities about how far we’ve veered from the values synonymous with the original and highest ideals of our creator. In this reading, that eerily mirrors the state of our nation, we are encouraged to not be silent about the truth. We are commissioned by the prophet Isaiah to speak truth to life when we see injustice, intimidation, racism and discrimination in all forms. Let this time of renewal and recon- ciliation not be a time when we are silent about what we see. Let this time of healing be fortified by the spirit of truth and may God give us the strength to CRY OUT when faced with the bleak intolerance of the past. Dr. J.P. Bradley 6 Saturday after Ash Wednesday | February 20, 2021 Isaiah 58:9B-14 Psalm 86:1-6 Luke 5:27-32 He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. For anyone who enjoys yard work, landscaping, or nurturing a flower or vegetable garden, and even if these activities are not your favor- ite pastime, the image of a watered garden is familiar. On a steamy hot day, parched, wilted flowers can spring back to life when rejuvenated with life-saving water. Lent can be a time to refresh ourselves with the water of Faith. It is important to work consistently at keeping the weeds of our deeds out of our garden so it can burst into glorious bloom on Easter Sunday and beyond. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. In these troubled times with a global pandemic and a divided na- tion, it is more important than ever before that Faith and the Church re- main relevant in our lives. Faith can provide direction and comfort in everyday life as well as at times when all can seem lost or impossible. We need grace and guidance daily to help us do the right thing even in the most difficult dilemmas and crises. Some refer to conscience, others to a moral compass or a personal “North Star for navigation” for staying on track in life, and faith can be at the heart of all of those. Lent provides time to reflect on gaining the strength to remain strong in conviction with truth at the foundation of all our endeavors. We won’t always be perfect, we won’t always get it right and we won’t always make the cor- rect decision. It helps us to remember that Jesus said the healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. It keeps expectations realistic to remem- ber that the Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners. In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic when we realize heroes work at hospitals, we can be reassured that there are people all around us in all walks of life who would offer support and we, in turn, can reach out to others. Colleen Hanna 7 First Sunday of Lent | February 21, 2021 Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm 25:4-9 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12-15 Genesis 9:8-15 This verse about God’s restoration and Covenant with all of man- kind is an iconic and very powerful verse.