Dear Fellow Parishioners,
             “Be Open;” the challenge for us this Lenten season is before us!  “Be Open to be led by the Spirit,” “Be Open To Listen;” “Be Open to living water,” “Be Open to see,” Be Open to Believe,” “Be Open to death,” “Be Open to New Life!”
             As we gather each week, the Gospels will invite us to the treasures offered to us who make the Lenten journey from ashes to Easter.  Whenever I hear those words “Be Open” I remember the story of Lazarus locked in the tomb and Jesus tells the crowd, “Roll the stone aside!”  And they protest, “He has been dead three days, surely there will be a stench!”  Sometimes we are afraid to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are afraid of what we may see or hear.  However, if we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we are guided not to darkness but to light.  We must remember we are only as sick as our secrets. 
          The crowd obeys Jesus and they roll the stone aside.  Instead of a stench, Jesus cries out in a loud voice, “Lazarus come out!”  Low and behold, the dead man came our bound hand and foot.  Jesus again speaks to the crowd, “Untie him, and set him free!”  What wonderful words to hear, “Be Open, be untied and set free!”
          We are given the annual gift of Lent in order to get back on track with our spiritual growth and our fidelity to Christ as Disciples who make him present in our world.  We have moments and times in our lives when we close our hearts, our eyes and our minds to God.  We have times when we build walls, preventing deep relationships with others, ourselves and with God.  Lent gives us that opportunity to slow down and allow the Spirit to shed light on the walls we have built and gives us the grace to take them down.  Then with the power of that same Spirit we are given the grace to build bridges to new and wonderful relationships with God, others and self. 
         “Be Open!” A simple mantra for this Lenten season.  Simple, yet challenging, simple yet profound, when we make the effort to make the journey, not in isolation, but together as a community of faith!  Let the journey begin!
                                                                        Fr. Bill