ONE WITH CHRIST: SURRENDER. TRUST. EMPOWERED TO SERVE.
The Holy Seasons of Lent and Easter present a profound opportunity to deeply reflect on the mystery of our salvation as those Called, Gifted, and Sent. Recognizing that the Death and Resurrection of Christ form the axis around which Lent and Easter revolve, these seasons remind us that discipleship entails embracing self-emptying and total surrender (Phil 2:6-11), sacrifice, and a commitment to live for God’s glory and a call to serve others. The Lenten period, serves a dual purpose. Beyond preparing us for the Easter festivities, it also prompts us to re-evaluate our relationship with God, beckoning us toward renewal and transformation.
The readings in Lent encourage our focus on the Eucharistic theme, One with Christ: Surrender, Trust, and Empowered to Serve.
Surrender is rooted in deep trust that God is good, loving, and has a greater plan for our lives, even when we don’t fully understand it. As we journey in faith, we are called to entrust ourselves fully to God’s unwavering love and faithfulness. This trust enables us to embrace the unknown, confident that God is always present, guiding us through life's challenges, even when the path ahead is unclear. During Lent, we are invited to “go deeper” with God, letting go of self-interest and surrendering to God’s will as Jesus modeled for us during His 40 days of temptation in the wilderness.
Through His Temptation, Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ teaches us the acts of total surrender, trust in God, and selfless service to others.
As we journey through the 2025 Lenten Season that culminates in the Easter celebrations and extends to Pentecost, let us remember that our call to serve and bear witness to the world cannot be fully realized unless we are united with Christ. As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, and as those Called, Gifted, and Sent, may we be inspired to embrace the needs of others, to serve them with compassion and kindness, and to share the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection.
Eucharist Prayer
Heavenly Father,
At our wondrous birth,
You invite us to be a
part of Your body.
We praise You
for Your Gift of
the Bread from Heaven
divine in Your Son, Jesus.
At Your table, You offer us
to take and eat the Eucharist,
to receive Jesus
in the depth of our soul.
Your prescient love
fills the longing of our heart
and we journey in hope –
strangers no longer.
In this sacred mystery,
You call us to
to do for others
as You have done.
Transfigured by Your holy Spirit
we promise to be Your Eucharist
to one another that all will know You
until the end of the age.
Amen.
Read Bishop Noonan’s Pastoral Letter, The Eucharist: God Among Us HERE.
Learn more about the National Eucharistic Revival and how you can get involved here.
