Marriage & Family Life: Spiritual house cleaning prepares us for new life

by Adam Storey | March 23, 2022

Later this month, my wife is due with another child, and she’s entered into the “nesting” phase of pregnancy, where all house cleaning takes on a new level of urgency. 

We’ve lived in our home for eleven years, and so our closets have had plenty of time to build up clutter, and dust has been undisturbed for almost a generation in various hard to reach places. But in this eleventh hour, I’ve been told that it all needs to change, and now! 

I’m trying to convince my wife that unfolded laundry will not in fact hinder the baby’s arrival, but on some level I do understand her impulse, and I also find nesting particularly appropriate during Lent. 

My family is preparing our house to welcome a new member, and Lent is about preparing our hearts for welcoming the Paschal Mystery, God’s victory over death and invitation to new life. In Lent we ought to take steps to clear out the clutter of our hearts, and even take the time to address those “hard to reach” places in our hearts, like deep-seated habits, neglected wounds, and our venial sins that we so often try to justify. 

How do we enter into this spiritual “house cleaning”? The Church proposes to us prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Sometimes, I’m tempted to approach these practices as if they’re meant to cause me suffering. As if Lent is a time to toughen up, so that we’ll be worthy of Easter. 

Instead, these practices are about purifying our hearts, helping us clean out the distractions in our spiritual lives so that we can more fully receive the gift that is offered at Easter. Our sacrifices during Lent are not about becoming stronger, or even more disciplined; they’re about making space in our hearts so that we’re truly free to receive all the good things that God wants to give us. Lent should be a joyful work, and like all work in the spiritual life it’s less about our effort, and more about what God is doing within us.

I tend to grumble a bit when cleaning out the closets of my home, but I know I’ll be grateful when our new daughter arrives and I can focus on the gift of a sleeping baby in my arms. I hope we can all joyfully and fully embrace the gift of Lent, when we undertake spiritual “house cleaning” so that we can receive the gift of new life at Easter!  
 
Adam Storey is the diocesan director of Marriage & Family Life. He can be reached at astorey@dmdiocese.org or 515-237-5056.