In addition to being a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we walk with Jesus, preparing our hearts to commemorate His death on the cross, Lent is also a season of conversion. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops writes, "We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully." (Read the full article here.)
Most of us have heard of conversion in the sense of people becoming Catholic through the RCIA process (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). Most people who convert to Catholicism come into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass and receive the sacraments, some for the first time and some returning to full communion with the Church after having been away for a long time or only being Baptized and not having received the other sacraments. There are so many amazing Catholics who have come into the Church from other religions- or from no religions at all! I know some amazing people who have come into the Church- some even as teenagers- and are now fantastic practicing Catholics. Lent brings the conversion of our new Brothers and Sisters into focus, giving all of us who are already Catholic a fantastic example of conversion.
"Wait, what?" you may be thinking, "I've been Catholic my entire life... why do I need conversion?"
Every single person in the entire world needs conversion. As Catholics, we are called to constant interior conversion. The Catechism says, “The first work of the Holy Spirit is conversion. Moved by grace, man turns towards God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high.”(CCC 1989) Conversion is a constant reordering of our hearts and lives towards God- exactly what we're called to do during the season of Lent!
How do we do this? How do we cultivate an attitude- a lifestyle- of conversion?
For most of us, conversion begins with a "mountain-top" moment. A moment where we, like the apostles in today's Gospel, are given an encounter with Jesus in all His splendor and glory. For me, this moment took place first at my Confirmation and then was strengthened at my first Steubenville Youth Conference. This is a moment where we are "set on fire" for our faith! What has been the conversion moment in your life? Can't think of one? Aren't on fire for your faith yet? Go to a Catholic Church. Sit with Jesus. Give your life to Him. Trust me, if you are only open, He will do amazing things.
After this initial moment of conversion, we "come back down the mountain" and have to go back to our normal lives. Our conversion does not stop there! We can cultivate an attitude and a lifestyle of conversion by constantly taking advantage of the graces the Lord sends us to help form us into saints. These would include taking advantage of the sacraments, particularly receiving the Eucharist and going to Confession; developing a prayer routine; performing works of charity and service (such as the ones we're doing during the Catholic Teen Life Lenten Journey!); finding friends or groups who can encourage you and who you can encourage them in your journeys of faith; studying the Bible and reading spiritual books; and much, much more. Each of these opportunities to grow in our faith, particularly taking advantage of the sacraments, gives us the graces necessary to cultivate a lifestyle of conversion, turn away from sin, and be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus calls us to "metanoia!"- repent and believe! That is what true conversion is all about. We are called to constantly repent and believe in the Gospel not only in the Lenten season but all the time.
Let's ask our Lord to cultivate a spirit of conversion in our hearts during this Lenten season, and to help us sustain it throughout our entire lives, persevering in the faith until our Lord helps us through the final stage of conversion and guides us to our Heavenly home.
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