During Lent the three catechumens in our parish will participate in the “Rites Belonging to the Period of Purification and Enlightenment.” These rites include “Scrutinies” and “Presentations.” The Scrutinies normally happen on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent (because of Spring Break we are moving the Third Sunday Scrutiny to the Second Sunday, which the Church allows). The Church describes in part the Scrutinies as follows:

 

The scrutinies, which are solemnly celebrated on [the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Lenten] Sundays and are reinforced by an exorcism, are rites for self-searching and repentance and have above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.

 

Because they are asking for the three sacraments of initiation, the elect must have the intention of achieving an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and they are expected particularly to progress in genuine self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and true repentance (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

 

The word “scrutiny” literally means “careful examination.” In the First Scrutiny the catechumen experiences a ritualized self-examination of sin, as the first paragraph above states: “The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal.” These words show us the way of conversion, to which all Christians are called during Lent. Conversion involves uncovering through careful examination all that is wounded, all that is disordered and sinful, all that is not of God within us. Uncovering sin requires regular examination and humility. Pride, the opposite of humility, shows a self-righteous attitude that excludes God’s wisdom and prevents conversion. Pride manifests a hardness of heart that leaves no room for growth. Pride before God works as a wall on the heart blocking out our Lord’s Word and Spirit. With a prideful heart, Christianity degenerates into a pick-and-choose, whatever-is-convenient, religious practice. A pride-hardened heart cannot be healed. Without God’s healing there is no joy, no freedom. Pride stifles God’s action in our lives.

 

All of us wrestle with various manifestations of pride. We pridefully close our hearts to God out of fear of change. We are afraid that God is going to tell us we are wrong and that He will take something away from us making us unhappy. Lies. What we need is trust in the merciful Heart of Jesus whose mission is to heal and bring life. Therefore, our eyes follow the way of Jesus to the Cross. On the way, Jesus gently helps us to uncover all that is weak and sinful within us, all the while showing us that He suffers because He loves us: “through his wounds you are healed” (Isa 53:3, 1 Pet 2:24). By finding our wounds to be the very wounds of Jesus, we experience the power of His merciful love. Being with us in our wound He reveals that He is the life-giving water that heals and brings forth new life. Taking up the Cross in this way, Jesus shows us that in dying to self in humble obedience to the Father is the way to life. No other way leads to the healing power of the resurrection. No other way brings us joy and fulfillment.