A Lenten StoryFebruary 12, 2024

A Lenten Story

The king asked for his son to come to him and said to the boy, “Son, you must prove yourself worthy to follow in my footsteps and, one day, become king. So, I am sending you on a mission.

You must go the land of delight, find the dragon sleeping in a cave, open its mouth and take out the pearl of great price. Bring it to me. That is your mission.”

The king’s son traveled far to the land of delight. The people there greeted him with great joy, dancing, and singing.

They showed him many delights, girls, food of all kinds to eat, beaches, water to swim in, games to play etc. Days, months, years went by, and the king’s son did not return with the pearl of great price. Finally, the king was dying so he sent a messenger to the boy to ask why he wasn’t returning with the pearl? After many days travel the messenger found the king’s son enjoying everything in the land of delight. The messenger reminded the boy of his mission.

The king’s son cried, “I forgot all about my mission and who I am!” With great remorse he changed course, found the dragon’s cave and the fierce beast. He got a great sleeping pill, wrapped it in bacon, and put it outside the cave. The dragon ate it and fell into a sound sleep. The king’s son then opened the great dragon’s mouth, grabbed the pearl and, many days later, brought it to his father. What joy the father experienced with this encounter.

Perhaps sin is to forget who we are, and what we are called to?

Perhaps we miss the messenger who reminds us about the reality we are called to?

Perhaps all of lent is the messenger?

Maybe this all has to do with light and darkness and we find ourselves liking the darkness of delights instead of being disciples?

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." 2 Corinthians 5:20-28

Sister Mary Joan Grisez