Dear Friend, 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Reflection by Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D.

Already by this time in Lent, those perennial questions are coming into my mind, and with greater frequency: “Why did I commit to this?”, “How can I escape from this?”, and “What excuse can I make up so that I won’t have to do this any longer?”  Not edifying, I admit. But, if I’m being honest, such uncertainty is floating around more than I would like. I always enter the Holy Season with great enthusiasm, trying to make the most of this grace-filled opportunity to deepen my ability to trust and to grow in my capacity to persevere.

By this point, sadly, in many ways, opportunity has morphed into obligation, freedom has been replaced with compromise, and making space for grace has been crowded out by my on-again, off-again reliance on the power of my own will. The perennial, perhaps more aptly, life-long struggle to allow the Lord to his proper place in my life – “thou and thou only, first in my heart!”

I guess it’s really more about living into and out of this primary desire, that God first has for us and we, in turn, offer back to God. Saint Clare of Assisi captures this fundamental disposition in her grateful recognition that God had enlightened her heart with his love. Because of what God had done in her heart, she was able to “do something positive with what she had, with what occurred, with what God provided, with what the day brought, with the conditions put before her.” (Mother Mary Francis, PCC). Now that’s trust!

And I believe that is the confident trust to which you and I are called to grow in and to deepen during this Lenten Season. It involves looking beyond difficult situations (imposed or self-made) as well as challenging personalities (my own or someone else’s). The following reflection was sent to me during one of the most trying times of my life. Back then, it brought me tremendous consolation. During these Lenten days, it brings me hope and offers encouragement:

Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today.

When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place,

thing or situation – some fact of life, unacceptable to me,

          and I cannot find joy until I accept that person, place,

thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be

at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God’s world by mistake.

Unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy.

I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed

          in the world as on what needs to be changed in me

          and in my attitudes.

Acceptance is the key to my relationship with God.

I never just sit and do nothing while waiting for Him to tell me what to do.

Rather, I do whatever is in front of me to be done,

          and I leave the results up to Him,

          however it turns out,

          that’s God’s will for me.

Anonymous

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Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity Seton Hall University and Rector/Dean Emeritus, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, a licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) from Pontificio Istituto Teresianum, Rome, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. He has served as a member of the Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Board, the Advisory Committee on Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests, the Archdiocesan Vocations Board, and the Board of Trustees of Seton Hall University. Pope John Paul II named him a Chaplain to His Holiness in 2005, with the title of Reverend Monsignor. In 2016 during the Holy Year of Mercy, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization sought priests who were living signs "of the Father's welcome to all those in search of His forgiveness." He was the only priest from the Archdiocese of Newark formally commissioned as a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.