February 2016
Reflection
Arama Jason Pou is a former pupil of St Bernard’s College, Lower Hutt who is now a second-year student at the University of Waikato studying for a Bachelor of Arts in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. He offers this personal reflection for Lent.
Tēnā koutou katoa, anei tētahi pātai hei whakaaroaro mā koutou: he aha te whakaaro o te Hāhi mō te hanga rori?
Ko Rēneti te wā hei whakareri mā tātou katoa mō te Aranga o Hēhu. He waiporoporo te kara, ā, he tohu matapōuri tēnei. I te Rēneti, mahi ai tātou i ngā mahi pai, hei tauira: te karakia, ngā mahi aroha, te nohopuku, te mea, te mea, te mea. Ka āwhina ngā mahi pai nei i ō tātou whakariteritenga. E whā tekau ngā rā te roanga o Rēneti, ā, kei te awere ngā Rātapu e ono. Ā te Wenerei o ngā pungarehu tīmata ai te wā o Rēneti. He tohu rīpenetā ngā pungarehu.
Ko te aronga o te Rātapu tuatahi o Rēneti: ko te Whakawainga o Hēhu ki te koraha. Ko te ngako o te kōrero: me ū tātou, ā, kia hiwa rā pērā ki a Hēhu i te wā i whakawaia ia e te rewera.
Ko te aronga o te Rātapu tuarua o Rēneti: ko te huringa o te āhua o Hēhu. Ko te matū o te kōrero: me huri ō tātou āhua ā-roto.
Ko te aronga o te Rātapu tuatoru o Rēneti: ko te kupu whakarite o te rākau piki kore-hua. Ko te ngako o te kōrero: Me huri haere ō tātou ngākau ki te Atua, ā, ka hua.
Kei te hoki mai ki te pātai: āe, kei te whakaae te Hāhi mō te hanga rori. Nā, i te Rēneti nei, me hanga tātou i ngā rori ki ō tātou ngākau kia āhei ai te Ariki ki te kuhu mai ki roto. Mā ō tātou whakariteritenga, me hanga tātou i ngā rori kia haere tahi ai tātou me te Ariki ki te Rīpeka.
E Mere, te Ākonga tuatahi, inoi mō mātou.
Hato Hōhepa, inoi mō mātou.
Hato Pētera, inoi mō mātou.
Hato Pāora, inoi mō mātou.
E te hunga tapu, inoi mō mātou.
Kāti, mauri ora ki a tātou katoa.
I begin this reflection with a question: what is the Church’s teaching on building roads?
Lent is the preparation for Easter (the rising of Jesus Christ). Violet is the liturgical colour and symbolises the sombreness of the season. During Lent, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, etc are ‘good works’ usually performed to help in our preparations for Easter.
The season of Lent is 40 days long excluding six Sundays. Ash Wednesday, 10 February 2016, marks the beginning of Lent. The ashes we receive are a symbol of penance and a need to repent.
On the First Sunday of Lent, the Gospel focuses on the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). Christ tempted in the wilderness is an example for us to remain steadfast and alert.
On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel focuses on the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36). As Christ becomes transformed, so we too are called to transform ourselves and become more Christ-like.
On the Third Sunday of Lent, the Gospel focuses on the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:1-9). The gist of the reading is that we should turn our hearts to God and we will gradually begin to bear fruit.
Coming back to the question with which I began this reflection: yes, the Church supports the building of roads. So this Lent, let us build roads to our hearts to enable the Lord to enter in. By our preparations this Lent, let us build roads to journey together with the Lord to the Cross.
Mary, First Disciple, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St Peter, pray for us.
St Paul, pray for us.
The Communion of Saints, pray for us.