I am bragging here. I gave up lots of things, but only for a little while. I kept moving the goalpost by saying things like, “except on Sundays.” Nothing I gave up lasted until this bulletin deadline, let alone Easter, and still I am entering the Easter Season probably the most transformed by Lent that I can ever remember.
How did I do it? It was simple. I went to youth ministry every Monday. Ok, I also prepared to present at youth ministry. This month we covered prayer every week. We learned to pray unceasingly, how to make time for prayer, actual prayer practice and about the greatest prayer ever, Mass. I did not start Lent giving up rap music while driving, but I ended Lent this way, because that drive time was perfect for some chats with God and the other voices in my head. I did not start Lent asking for strength for the day as I tied my shoes and poured my coffee, but I ended Lent doing so because it really is possible to pray unceasingly. I did not start Lent thinking communicating with God was what I needed to do all the time, but by the end of Lent the Holy Spirit was whispering in my ear every day.
I have to say, as Lenten practices go, this was the simplest one; adding prayer. I learned how to do it by finding enriching videos, getting daily reflections in my emails and… preparing for youth ministry. Once I got into it, it really did not take up a whole lot of time. Paying attention to God working in my life exploded by the end. And if I was being honest, I really could have tried harder. Thank God for Lent 2019.
Take some advice from a Saint. “You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you have already begun.” – St. Josemaria Escriva
Happy Easter!
Paul Pyrkosz
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
How did I do it? It was simple. I went to youth ministry every Monday. Ok, I also prepared to present at youth ministry. This month we covered prayer every week. We learned to pray unceasingly, how to make time for prayer, actual prayer practice and about the greatest prayer ever, Mass. I did not start Lent giving up rap music while driving, but I ended Lent this way, because that drive time was perfect for some chats with God and the other voices in my head. I did not start Lent asking for strength for the day as I tied my shoes and poured my coffee, but I ended Lent doing so because it really is possible to pray unceasingly. I did not start Lent thinking communicating with God was what I needed to do all the time, but by the end of Lent the Holy Spirit was whispering in my ear every day.
I have to say, as Lenten practices go, this was the simplest one; adding prayer. I learned how to do it by finding enriching videos, getting daily reflections in my emails and… preparing for youth ministry. Once I got into it, it really did not take up a whole lot of time. Paying attention to God working in my life exploded by the end. And if I was being honest, I really could have tried harder. Thank God for Lent 2019.
Take some advice from a Saint. “You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you have already begun.” – St. Josemaria Escriva
Happy Easter!
Paul Pyrkosz
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
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