“Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you.”
Through the bodily disciplines of Lent, our minds are made radiant with the strength of our yearning for God. This is some rich spiritual theology which helps us understand why we are undertaking this Lenten journey.
We might be tempted to think that our spiritual disciplines are simply ends in themselves—that the point of our fasting is just to fast because Jesus fasted, or that the point of prayer is just to pray just because Jesus prayed.
But this collect reveals that something deeper occurs when we engage in the Lenten practices. Our disciplined spiritual practices have a profound effect upon us.
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving deepen our yearning for God. We hunger for God, we have a deep desire to know, love, and serve God, and the Lenten practices deepen that desire. And this spiritual yearning isn’t weak sentimentality; this yearning for God reorients our lives more directly to God. It purifies our hearts so that we come to value God above all else.
Prayer fasting and almsgiving make our minds radiant—we receive illumination, clarity, purity as we draw closer to the fire of God. This is why the saints radiate God’s presence because they have drawn close to God through spiritual disciplines that we typically only dabble with. For the more intensely we desire God, the more we set aside lesser desires. When we deeply long for God, distractions fade away, our minds open up to divine illumination, and then that same divine illumination can be detected in our manner of life.
This is why in the Gospel the Lord teaches his disciples, when you pray, don’t just babble. Our prayer is so important, because through it we begin to desire the things that God desires, our wills grow in proximity to His most holy will.
Similarly, Isaiah in our first reading speaks about the word of God showering down upon the soul and making it fertile and fruitful. Our prayer, as well as our fasting and almsgiving are meant to change us, to convert us, and make us deeply yearn for God who alone satisfies the hungry heart.
May we respond generously to the call to the Lenten observances, that our minds may be radiant in God’s presence with the strength of our yearning for Him, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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We should pour forth prayers at all times dear brothers and sisters but above all in these days of lent we ought to watch more intently with Christ and direct our petitions more fervently to God.
For the Church, that through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, she may grow in holiness, reflecting God's radiant presence to the world, we pray to the Lord.
For those preparing for baptism and reception into the Church at Easter, that their hearts may grow pure and radiant through prayer, fasting, and acts of charity, we pray to the Lord.
For all Christians, that their prayer may be genuine and heartfelt, aligning their wills more closely with the holy will of God, we pray to the Lord.
For those struggling to sustain their Lenten commitments, that they might be strengthened by God’s grace and find renewed meaning and clarity in their spiritual practices, we pray to the Lord.
For all who have become lukewarm or indifferent in their faith, that this Lent they may rediscover the joy of longing for God above all things, we pray to the Lord.
For the sick, suffering, and those who carry heavy burdens, that they may experience the comforting presence of God, who draws near to those who earnestly seek Him, we pray to the Lord.
For the faithful departed, that their yearning for God may be fulfilled in eternal communion with Him in heaven, we pray to the Lord.
Grant we pray our Lord that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.
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