Source: Deep Down Things by Richard McCullen, C.M. 17 March 1991

1. Lenten Reflection
by
Richard
McCullen,
C.M.

2. "Truly,
truly
l
say
to
you,
unless
a
grain
of
wheat
falls
into
the
earth
and
dies,
it
remains
alone,
but
if
it
dies,
it
bears
much
fruit."
(Jn
12:24).

3. For
a
Christian,
that
is,
for
a
follower
of
Christ,
it
is
important
that
he
or
she
knows
how
to
die.
I
am
not
now
thinking
so
much
of
death
at
the
end
of
our
lives,
though
dying
is
necessary,
if
we
are
to
enter
fully
into
the
joy
of
living
with
Christ
in
heaven.
I
am
thinking
of
the
importance
for
a
Christian
to
be
able
to
say
no
to
himself.

4. One
day
Our
Lord
said:
"If
anyone
will
come
after
Me,
he
must
deny
himself..."
(Mt
16:24).
To
deny
oneself
means
to
say
no
to
oneself.

5. Supposing
you
are
about
to
make
a
journey
on
foot
and
you
are
not
too
sure
of
the
road.
You
will
ask
directions.
You
might
consult
a
map.
Then
you
set
out.
You
reach
a
junction
in
the
road.
One
road
goes
down
into
a
valley
and
another
road
goes
up
a
hill.
You
hesitate
and
wonder
which
road
you
will
take.

6. You
know
that
the
place
to
which
you
are
going
lies
on
the
other
side
of
the
hill.
The
easier
road
goes
down
the
hill,
which
will
demand
much
less
energy,
but
you
know
that
it
is
round
about
and
dangerous.
The
other
road
is
a
steep
climb.
You
would
like
to
go
down
the
hill
to
save
yourself
effort,
but
your
better
judgment
will
suggest
that
you
take
the
more
difficult,
uphill
road,
knowing
it
will
bring
you
to
the
place
to
which
you
are
going.

7. It
is
like
that
with
us
on
the
journey
of
life.
We
must
make
choices.
Our
instincts,
our
selfishness,
our
pride
will
often
suggest
to
us
to
follow
them.
It
is
an
easier
road.
But
Christ,
His
Church
and
our
consciences
suggest
another
way.
To
follow
that
road,
we
must
say
no
to
our
natural
instincts.

8. It
may
be
difficult
and
demand
much
effort,
but
that
effort
will
bring
with
it
a
peace
and
contentment
that
money
will
not
buy.
"Unless
a
grain
of
wheat
falls
into
the
earth
and
dies,
it
remains
a
single
grain
of
wheat;
but
if
it
dies,
it
brings
a
good
harvest."
Years
after
Our
Lord
had
spoken
those
words,
St.
Paul
told
his
converts:
"Those
who
belong
to
Christ
have
crucified
their
lower
nature
with
all
that
it
loved
and
lusted
for."
(Gal
5:24).

9. Lent
is
a
time
when
we
think
about
doing
some
crucifixion
of
our
lower
nature.
That
does
not
mean
that
we
banish
all
pleasure,
all
joy
from
our
lives.
Lent
is
a
time
when
we
check
on
the
direction
our
lives
are
taking.

10. Do
we
always
take
the
easy,
downhill
road
in
every
choice
we
make?
Lent
is
a
time
when
we
apply
the
brakes
to
downhill
movements
in
our
lives
and
try
to
change
direction
and
to
change
gear.
We
do
that
by
allowing
Jesus
Christ
to
have
a
greater
say
in
our
lives,
in
our
decisions,
in
our
thoughts,
in
our
actions.
That
will
mean
saying
no
to
ourselves,
perhaps
many
times
a
day.

11. By
saying
no
to
ourselves,
we
are
like
the
little
grain
of
wheat
that
dies.
Once
we
have
said
no
to
ourselves
and
have
died
a
little,
we
will
experience
new
life
and
a
new
peace.

12. Invite
Jesus
Christ,
then,
into
your
lives
and
He
will
help
you
on
the
uphill
road,
for,
as
He
assures
us,
"If
I
am
lifted
up
from
the
earth,
I
will
draw
all
people
to
Myself."
(Jn
12:32).
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13. Source:
Deep
Down
Things
by
Richard
McCullen,
C.M.
17
March
1991