I HAVE never met Fr. Jerry Orbos. I have only heard about him. He is a brilliant and good preacher-priest. I look forward to meeting him, and bask in his words of wisdom.
This week, someone forwarded his Ash Wednesday–Lenten message.
He used 3Ps:
1. Pray – Talk to God, and most importantly, listen to Him. Then Act on His words.
2. Penance – Make a good confession. Instead of regretting, blaming oneself, or blaming others, admit and accept fault and wrongdoing. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.” Ask for forgiveness. Forgive, and move on.
3. Participate – The fruit of prayer and penance is involvement. Participate and help others. Participate in the works of His church. Minister to the needs of others and evangelize.
In my younger days, Lent was about the ash on my forehead, a reminder of going back to ashes someday, and a time for fasting and abstinence. The “why” was not so much ingrained in my heart and mind. This is not due to failure or omission on the part of my teachers or of the priests who would repeatedly remind us during homilies. Rather, it was a lack of faith and understanding of what preparation for the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, entails.
My dearest Michael and family members,
May this season of Lent be one of prayer, penance and participation.
May fasting and abstinence strengthen our resolve to realize and participate in Christ’ suffering and in His victory over sin and death.
This Lent, I offer my prayers and sacrifices for someone who is being transformed by God’s love.
May he be steadfast and firm. May his commitment to be a channel of God’s peace, thru love where there is hatred, thru forgiveness where there is hurt, thru understanding when the situation cannot be understood, and to have faith, when there is doubt all around.
May he inspire all of us to be a man for others.
His prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, being joyfully lived out:
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is dying that we are born to eternal life.”