Ash Wednesday - Going up the Mountain
Lent Begins February 6, 2008

In a second hand bookstore, I found an interesting book by Fr. Edward Hays, "The Ascent of the Mountain of God." This is a book of Daily Reflections for the Journey of Lent. 1994. Forest of Peace Publishing, Leavenworth, KS. It is something I can use in my own preparation for Lent, and it gives me, at least, a starting point on which to begin a reflection. Obviously, I cannot use Fr. Hays writing as this would violate a copyright, but I do not think there is any harm in using a concept - traveling up a mountain. That makes sense to me, because I wrote about "Ascent to Interior Prayer," which is also a going up or reaching for a new plateau in the spiritual life. Fr. Hays notes that in Isaiah 2:3, we are invited to this mountain journey as the prophet writes: "Come, let us climb God's mountain.

Mountain climbers are never satisfied. They scale one peak, and the next time they want to better themselves by climbing a higher peak. For people who are into the Spiritual Life, who have invested time and effort into it, they too, desire to better their journeying experiences in time. We are speaking of the interior life, the life of the soul. Lent is an excellent time for a journey to better oneself, and at the same time to retreat to a fallback position, a position of humility, to get rid of distractions and serve Our Lord fully with strong commitment. There aren't many mountains in Florida where I live, in fact there aren't any. But in Palestine, there is Mount Tabor, where the Transfiguration took place. And, of course, in Jerusalem there is Golgotha where the Crucifixion takes place.

"Let us go to the Mountain of God" - Ash Wednesday prepares us for the journey through Lent. On this day, we pray in anticipation of leading a life with fewer distractions for 40 days. In order to go up the mountain of interior prayer which has a fuller life with God as its goal, we have to eliminate the confusion and frustrations of life so that we will become pure of heart. The ashes placed on our foreheads is a sign of going into penance. It is also a sign of leaving the world by preparing to go up the mountain. Have you done everything to make the trip? Have you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that you may receive Our Lord in Holy Communion more often during Lent?

It would be nice if you did not have to travel alone. Perhaps your spouse will want to make this journey with you. Or your brother or sister? On Fridays, some of us (depending on age) will have to fast. I hear people say - what difference does it make what we eat on such days, or being above the age limit, people talk as if a great weight has been lifted from them. Really, fasting, if you can, is all part of the trip up the mountain. Jesus would be so pleased if you did something you were not required to do.

We are always called to share what we have with our sisters and brothers, especially with the poor and homeless. In Lent that is even more important! While we seek a certain intimacy with God in our prayer life, this intimacy would  go nowhere unless we learn how to say 'I am sorry, ' and 'I forgive you.' more easily. We also must be able to forgive ourselves. You go to confession and God forgives you. That means, you will not heal until you forgive yourselves - but some people are unable to do that.

Many parishes have Lenten homilies or special Lenten retreat programs. These are very useful for getting us on our way. Jesus invited us to "Come follow me." Let us say "Yes, Lord, your servant is listening."

We listen for instructions how to come closer to Jesus. In a world that is so much into speed, warp-speed, let's slow down just a bit and make a daily commitment each day of Lent that will lead, eventually, to a life-long commitment, to take the opportunity offered to us, to begin our trip. In olden days, the priest used to pray "Introibo ad Altare Dei." (Let us go up to the Altar of God) - it is an upward trip to become close to Jesus, every day. Becoming closer to Jesus has an immense amount of "Grace" attached to it, and it will help you along the more difficult passages up the mountain."

May this Lenten Journey inspire you, and May God bless you, and keep you!

Fred S. Schaeffer, SFO