Sunday, March 1, 2026 – The Second Sunday in Lent
Since the end of December, one of our parking lot light towers behind the church has been flickering like an old disco light—as you are well aware. As I write this week’s column, I believe this lighting malfunction has been repaired. It has taken time to identify a provider and then to get it on the schedule for service. It is much like good wine; it takes time to perfect.
Over the past two months, I have looked at this lighting situation and thought to myself we need to get this repair job done. At the same time, I have gotten accustomed to it and over time, it has become more normalized. I had this binary reaction going in two different directions—fix it but I can live with it.
I use this example because I suspect it relates to our human experience. There are areas of our lives we are not happy with. We have over time developed habits and actions not benefiting ourselves or others and we say repeatedly, “I need to fix it.” But then, on the other hand, over time these behaviors have become a part of our daily behavior, and in turn we say, “I should, but not know—it can wait.”
At this outset of our Lenten Season, maybe this is time to take the steps to address those “flickering lights” of our lives and work to make them more stable bright shining lights—showing that the light of Christ is radiating from us, bringing ourselves and others closer to the divine.
In our often “rationalizing mentality,” we may think that change and conversion is too hard and we just “kick the can down the road” with no plans for change. To this reaction, I recall the words of a deceased Marianist, Father Joe Lackner, who talked about the joy that comes from perfecting oneself. These words of his are etched in my memory.
As we move through our Lenten journey these days, may our return to God and perfecting in the ways of the Gospel be joyful. May we have the courage and faith to address what needs to be addressed with the sure conviction it will lead to greater life for us.