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Sixth Week of Lent: Solidarity Will Transform the World
 United States: Diocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado
When we began our global travels this Lent, we imagined
ourselves as ambassadors of Christ, extending our reach to places we might
never visit in person. Now we return to the United States, to explore the call
for solidarity with the poor in our own back yard. There we'll meet Karen and
Scott of Colorado Springs, who were delivered from near homelessness by the
support and services provided by their local Catholic Charities.
Pray
We have followed the sign of the Ash Wednesday cross to the
passion itself, which we retold in the Palm Sunday Gospel. The palm branches
from this Sunday's service will become next Lent's ashes, just as the story of
the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that launched the Palm Sunday procession
faded into the story of crucifixion and sealed tomb. This week, immerse
yourself in the stories, smells and sounds of the Holy Week liturgies. As you
worship, ask God to open your eyes and ears to the cry of the poor that rises
from them. Walk the Stations of the Cross this week, and ask God to show you
the story of the passion through the eyes of people whom society currently
condemns.
Fast
Fasting is built into Holy Week. On Good Friday we will give
up a meal or more and abstain from the flesh of animals. We will set aside time
to enter the drama of the Triduum. We will fast from the world's abundance, and
focus our attention fully on the death of a condemned man. It is a week for emptying
the last bits of ourselves in anticipation of the rich new life of Jesus'
Resurrection. This week's fast is a lesson in solidarity with a God who
suffers with us and with people who long for Easter joy. Let the emptiness
teach you how to make more room for God and for God's people during the great
50 days of Easter and beyond.
Learn
The rise of food prices over the last few years has had its
impact on people in poverty throughout the world, including in the United
States. According to U.S. News and World Report, food pantries in the United States saw a 20 to 25 percent increase in the number of people seeking help by May of 2008.
This year more people worldwide will be falling into poverty
from positions that were once much more secure. But we also know that programs that
respond to immediate needs and address the causes of homelessness can help
people escape poverty. For Karen and Scott of Colorado Springs, the
food, transportation and housing that their local Catholic Charities provided
helped them to avoid homelessness. A job for Scott and a college program for
Karen are providing them a different future, one that will hopefully make their
family less vulnerable to crisis.
Give
The Lenten practice of giving need not end with Easter. Lent
is a time to develop new habits to carry with you throughout the year. After
turning in your full Rice Bowl, strategize with your family members how to
extend the reach of your prayer, fasting, learning and giving in the months
ahead.
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