Re-Centre

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, March 26th, 2023:
The Fifth Sunday of Lent

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Romans
8.8-11

​Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

What did the Romans think when they read these words from Saint Paul?

It had been only a couple of generations since the crucifixion of Jesus. There were still people alive who had known Him, had heard Him speak, had heard Him say that He was the Son of God and one with God. And through the power of God, Jesus was raised from the dead. The dead. I imagine the Romans looking at each other thinking: God’s spirit dwells in me? That’s a little creepy, especially so for those who did not believe in the God Paul spoke of.
 
But I believe in God. I believe in His Son. And I believe in the Holy Spirit. So, it shouldn’t be too difficult for me to believe that God’s spirit dwells in me. After all, each time I go to Mass I consume Christ in the Eucharist. But believing is only part of the story. The other part is understanding that that belief transforms my behaviour. If God’s spirit dwells in me, then my words and actions should reflect that belief. I believe they do. That’s what I strive for. But I also know there are times when I fall short. "The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26.41).
 
Recently, I was invited to reflect on putting Christ at the centre of my life. As a believer, my automatic answer is: Yes, of course he is! But, upon further prayerful reflection, I came to a realization: I put Christ at the centre of my life, but often I end up looking everywhere but at the centre! I put Christ at the centre of my life, but I am simultaneously distracted by all the other things I see to the left and right of that centre: worldly desires and societal expectations. I can be focused on Christ but then, oh so easily, my attention is pulled to that shiny thing, person, or action on the side. This is why I am so grateful for the seasons of our Church, like the one we find ourselves in now: Lent. It’s a season that reminds me, not too subtly, where my focus needs to be. As Lent began, I discerned three attitudes I would take on. My three Ls of Lent: let go, listen, love.
 
Throughout Lent, I have made an intentional effort to:
·         let go more, knowing that God works through me and with me;
·       listen more, knowing that actively listening allows me to hear more clearly God’s voice in a              world with so many voices;
·        love more, knowing that choosing to love is sometimes easy and often times challenging, yet            it is the ultimate gift and expression of our God.

Some days I’ve done really well, while other days not so well. But, always, my Lenten Ls help me to re-centre myself to the One who is at the centre of my life.
 
The One whose Spirit dwells in me.

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Aurea Sadi

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