You don’t have to be a baseball fan like me to appreciate how the rituals of the new baseball season remind us of spiritual realities in our lives. I often say that spring training is an analogy for the spiritual benefits of Lent. Teams that are rebuilding themselves often have to trust in their “farm team” - the minor league portion of the squad who are still honing their skills, hopefully growing into the honor of playing in the major leagues.
Faith is a gift - a seed from God, filled with potential! While seeds have value in themselves, we will reap far more benefits from our faith if we plant it in a church community, feeding it regularly with prayer, scripture, and the sacraments