Lent as a Thin Place: Yearning for God

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As I look back on my relationship with my wife Joanne, one of the times that I recall with greatest fondness is the time in which I was “in pursuit” of her. As a couple of teenagers, we moved from being part of a larger group to spending more and more time alone with one another. Of course, I spent great time and energy (and a lot of brain cells!) planning and plotting to create more and more opportunities where the two of us would just happen to find ourselves alone. Eventually, my pursuit paid off, and we officially started dating. We dated for six years and will be married 40 years this November, 2022.

That time of pursuit and yearning for someone is filled with great excitement, hope, and possibility. This period must not be dismissed as somehow being pre-relationship. The reason that we yearn for and pursue someone is because we have encountered that person, are smitten, and want to continue to be smitten. Infatuation must not be dismissed. Though infatuation can be confused with love, it often is a stepping-stone to true love. And it is a rekindling of youthful infatuation that helps to keep a relationship going after many years.

During Lent, we strive to rekindle our infatuation—our yearning—for God. This is why Lent always features the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the second Sunday of the season. Peter, James, and John see Jesus in all his glory and are smitten. Peter thinks that this experience must be similar to the period of “courtship” between God and Israel when they traveled together in the desert and felt such intimacy, which is why Peter suggests setting up booths, or tents, to recreate the experience—a second honeymoon!

In her book, Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Graceauthor Julianne Stanz writes, “Thin spaces bring to birth in us a greater yearning for God, and also a sense of belonging.” We are, in fact, born with this yearning. The Catechism reminds us that, “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (27)

God is always drawing us to himself. We yearn for God because we have in some way(s) in our lives encountered his goodness, truth, and beauty, and we are smitten. And we wish to be smitten more!

May this thin place of Lent deepen our infatuation with God, leading us to true love!

About Joe Paprocki 2758 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

2 Comments on Lent as a Thin Place: Yearning for God

  1. Thank you, Joe, for this reflection and for so many others that you have shared. They are powerful. Have a blessed Lenten journey!

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