LENTEN MESSAGE OF HIS EMINENCE, ARCHBISHOP BENJAMIN

GREAT LENT 2013

To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:16-18, read on Cheesefare Sunday)

Dearly beloved,

As we enter into the Great Fast in preparation for our celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection, I exhort each and every one of you, my faithful flock, to heed the words of our Lord quoted above. So often we try to reduce our relationship with the Savior to a list of “dos and don’ts.” Certainly, Great Lent is quite a temptation in this way. What to eat, when to eat it, when not to eat it, how much to eat, if we can eat, etc., all can become the measuring stick for our effort.

But I remind you of two things, brothers and sisters. The first is that the Fast is not about “things.” It is about emptiness and repentance. The emptiness that we feel when we don’t eat or watch very carefully what we do eat is supposed to be a reminder to us that we feed our appetites constantly and never leave room for the Lord. The repentance is the turning around in effort to move away from our daily appetites to move towards a more godly and iconic life reflecting the Lord.

The second reminder is that in many ways, we are not to “measure” our Lenten efforts at all. The Pharisee measured his efforts and found them more than adequate. In all humility, let us strive to make a sincere effort and then allow God to measure it.

I ask your forgiveness as we enter into this holy time of year and wish for all my faithful parishes and each and every one of you a most fruitful and joyous Fast. May we all rejoice in the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at the end of this journey!

With love in Christ,

†Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco