Dear Friend 

Reflection by Sebastian Munoz

Lent, Time to Decrease

At the site of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Ein Karem, there is a wall with the Magnificat in every language you can imagine. And for good reason! The Magnificat is one of the few occasions in which the Virgin Mary speaks to us, and it is so precious that it accompanies us every day in the prayer of Vespers and becomes, at the same time, a beautiful aid to live this Lent.

In the Magnificat, we are invited to ponder Mary’s humility, as she proclaims: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk 1:46-47). Mary prays in the presence of Elizabeth, Zechariah, and their son, John, safe in his mother’s womb. Many years later, John also shows his humility as he says at the Jordan: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). John is willing to step back in favor of Jesus. During the season of Lent, it is important to deny ourselves and avoid those attitudes and things that keep us away from Jesus so that we are allowed to focus more on Him. This season presents a valuable opportunity for us to let go of our own unnecessary “baggage” and prioritize Jesus, making Him the most important aspect of our lives.

Today, and in the quiet of our hearts, we are invited to listen more deeply to God's voice so that we are able to discern His will for our lives. Interior silence, just like Mary´s silence, allows us to shed the distractions and busyness of daily life and focus our attention on God's presence and guidance. It is a reminder that our relationship with God is not just about doing things but about being present and open to His love and grace. Prepare your compass and map, try to go lightweight, and choose the Way, His way!

Let us pray to the Lord that this Lent may be another opportunity for us, like St. John the Baptist, to have the courage to embrace the Word, to prepare the way so that we may continue to climb the holy mountain as we are converted and transformed by the Word of God. May Our Lady help each one of us to encounter God in the silence of prayer, that we too, may be led to proclaim from our hearts: “My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

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Sebastian Munoz is a Third Theology seminarian for the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.