Use Lent as a way to examine oneself, says retreat leader

During a recent Lenten Evening of Reflection, held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany, she encouraged participants to think about the "two natures" of Lent: First, that Lent is a time of penitence when we must renew and reform our lives; and second, that Lent has a "baptismal nature," since we are on a journey toward Easter.

Ms. Simcoe, a resident chaplain at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, read the Gospel passages in which Jesus meets the woman at the well and offers her "living water," where He heals the man born blind, and where He raises Lazarus from the dead. She urged participants to imagine themselves as being in the stories, either as a witness or one of the main characters. Doing so, she said, can "unlock our awareness of God's presence."

Ms. Simcoe told The Evangelist that she chose those particular Gospel stories because they're used for catechumens -- people preparing to receive the sacraments and become full members of the Catholic Church. The stories, she said, bring people's hearts closer to God and encourage them to ask God for strength.

"The woman at the well asks for living water. The man born blind asks for sight," she explained. The Lazarus story "is a call to new life."

These ideas can be applied to anyone, she added: "Who of us doesn't need to be in communication with the Lord? Who of us doesn't have blindness?"

During the evening of reflection, Ms. Simcoe also invited participants to imagine themselves in a church where they feel comfortable worshipping, and picture themselves walking to the lectern and turning pages in the Lectionary, reading various Scripture passages. She told The Evangelist this exercise can be a start for Catholics in evaluating themselves during Lent.

"The last three Sundays of Lent are called `the scrutinies,'" she noted. "They challenge us to look at how we're living our lives, and to reexamine our lives as Christians and how they could be better."

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