February 18, 2021

Bishop Byrne: Goal of Lenten journey is to love God more deeply

REGIONAL
By Rebecca Drake

(iObserve photo/Mary Jeanne Tash)

SPRINGFIELD — Judging by the full parking lot outside St. Michael’s Cathedral, here, the seemingly unending pandemic did not deter local Catholics from attending the noontime Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated by Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne.

More than 100 worshipers sat socially-distanced in the pews as Bishop Byrne, assisted by Deacons Leo Coughlin and Michael Forrest, marked the beginning of the 2021 Lenten season. In his homily, the bishop acknowledged the challenges of making Lenten sacrifices during a pandemic and the spiritual rewards that await the faithful at the culmination of these 40 days spent in the “desert” with Jesus.

Following is the transcript of Bishop Byrne’s homily:

It’s not easy to figure out what to give up because we’ve given up so much stuff — not hanging out with our larger group of families, not going to a restaurant that we like to enjoy — and so it gives us a reminder, just as we hear in today’s Gospel, that Lent is not just about giving stuff up. It’s about fasting, prayer, almsgiving.

So I think this year that’s where we should really focus because the whole goal of Lent is to get ready for Easter. It’s a time of preparation, not destination. I need to make sure that 40 days from now, I’m a little closer to my heavenly Father.

Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne and Deacon Michael Forrest distribute ashes during the noontime Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. (iObserve photo/Mary Jeanne Tash)

The Spirit drives Jesus out into the desert and at that moment is where his ministry begins to come alive. He’s received his baptism and then sent in a time of preparation. The whole goal of Jesus’ ministry is to do the will of his heavenly Father. And the will of the heavenly Father is for you and me to be saved in the Precious Blood of the cross.

As we journey through this Lenten season, let’s keep our eyes on maybe going to our inner room a little more frequently, turning off things that may be distractions, give ourselves the gift of some silence, maybe when we take a walk, or early in the morning with our cup of coffee, to read some Scripture.

The power of this season is to remind us that it’s not just about giving something up, because if you finish this Lent and you have lost weight and your liver is healthier than it ever was, and you haven’t touched any chocolate, but you haven’t grown any closer to the heavenly Father through Jesus, don’t bother. Go ahead, get your Hershey’s, have your chardonnay, because it’s not going to make any difference.

The goal of this journey is, first, that, to love God more deeply and to have that reflected in how we reach out and take care of the poor.

And so we begin anew, not just giving up, but actually getting closer to the Father and getting to serve the poor.

The Ash Wednesday Mass at the cathedral can be viewed in its entirety here: Ash Wednesday Mass with Bishop Byrne – YouTube.