Kathy Schmugge, The Catholic News & Herald: BELMONT — Only a few days after Lent began, 120 people enlivened their spiritual journeys at a Lenten Day of Reflection sponsored by the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College Feb. 20.
Days of reflection have been a tradition at Belmont Abbey, but recently, the event has attracted a larger and more diverse crowd because of high-profile speakers like Patrick Madrid, a Catholic author and the Envoy Institute’s director. The college has proven to be an ideal location for these events – not just for students and monks, but for the public, too.
“An objective of the Envoy Institute is to continue the monks’ outreach to support the community, locally and more broadly. We have used the Advent and Lenten Days of Reflection to further that mission,” said Kenneth Davison Jr., vice president of college relations at Belmont Abbey College.
Father Mark Lawlor, pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, gave the first talk, making an acronym of the word “Lent” – learning, enduring, nurturing and trusting – as concrete actions to take during the season.
“Part of learning requires surrendering to God’s will and to learn the importance of the virtue of humility where we acknowledge that we still have much to learn,” Father Lawlor said.
He explained how Lent is a perfect time to reflect on endurance in the Christian life: it’s not a sprint, it’s more like a marathon. He emphasized the importance of nurturing the faith in charity and to trust in God during Lent’s time of “recalibration.”
After Mass, Monsignor Stuart Swetland – director of Homiletics and Pre-Theology and the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Endowed Chair for Christian Ethics at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and a member of the editorial advisory board of the Envoy Institute – gave insight into a few of the Sunday readings for Lent. He said Christians should imitate Jesus and be led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to reflect on their mission.’ As during the temptation of Christ, the devil tried to keep Christ from doing God’s will. Christ’s followers today should also expect temptations, but by following His example the Holy Spirit will provide the strength to overcome them. Monsignor Swetland also said the Transfiguration of Christ is a special consolation on Mount Tabor and that Christians today might experience spiritual consolations.
“Don’t dwell in the consolations,” he cautioned, “but come down from Tabor and go to another mountain, Mt. Calvary. When we go up that mountain, we become another Christ.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son, which is featured during the fourth Sunday of Lent, has many lessons, Monsignor Swetland said, including, “Don’t be the older son.” The oldest son missed the celebration because he chose to think the worst of his brother and did not welcome him back, he said. Another lesson? When the youngest son lost his money and no one helped him.
“It is easy to be the ‘no one.’ Our obligation is to help. Don’t make distinctions between the deserving poor and the undeserving poor. Be open to the gift of giving,” he said.
