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Book Review
Surrendering to Christ:
Everyday preparation for Easter
Reviewed by Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
February 21, 2008
Stations of the Cross on Fridays, fish frys, extra devotions and confession times — the rhythms of Lent can be felt at many parishes right now.
But many Catholics find it difficult to keep Lent at the forefront of their hearts and minds when confronted with they busy-ness of their lives and the seeming indifference of the world around them.
Good intentions are left unfulfilled; promises are forgotten and Catholics are often forced to reevaluate and rededicate themselves throughout these 40 days.
That’s because conversion is not a one-time deal, especially not during Lent, writes Emilie Griffin in her book “Small Surrenders: A Lenten Journey.”
“The Church in her wisdom calls us to a special time of intentionality, still another time of repentance,” Griffin writes. “Weary as we are, exhausted from the burdens of living, we must turn and be converted once again. Repentance is not a one-time thing.”
The 40 days of Lent are set aside to remind Christians of the necessity of turning towards the Lord. Catholics often do this with external acts like denying themselves their favorite food or performing charitable works.
But with every act, there should be a correspondingly correct disposition.
“Externally, Lent is a time of doing without. It is a time of self-denial, a penitential time, a time of repentance,” she writes. “But inwardly, Lent is a time of drawing closer to Jesus. The idea is to go with Jesus into the desert and journey with Him there during His times of trial.”
Griffin’s book deals mainly with this interior journey. She provides a quotation and meditation for each day of Lent and the Triduum.
Many of the quotes that begin each entry are biblical, but Griffin does not shy from using poets and authors to jumpstart her Lenten musings.
T.S. Eliot’s poem “Ash Wednesday” plays a role in Griffin’s introduction and Thomas Merton, St. Thomas More, C.S. Lewis, Gerard Manly Hopkins and lesser known writers and thinkers all appear in the book.
They offer Griffin a point of reference and an example in each of her entries. Mixed in with them are anecdotes, personal reflections and questions that lead the reader to a deeper understanding of what the phrase “small surrenders” really means.
“In earlier centuries, many Christians took on severe penances and forms of self-denial. Today’s Lent is gentler and less heroic in style,” she writes. “The following meditations develop the theme of small surrenders, ways that we may gently open ourselves up to the grace of God.”
Griffin is not denying the benefits of self-denial or penitential acts, she merely points out that the goal should be to place oneself in a state where it is easier to receive God’s grace.
In many ways, she argues, Lent is about allowing God to work on us by surrendering to Him those things that get in the way.
This book can help Catholics clear some of those hindrances out of the way. Griffin’s style is a pleasure to read, clear and concise, but artful as well. Each daily entry will only take a few minutes to read.
“Small Surrenders” reminds us of the goal of Lent, the need we have of constantly turning to the Lord.
If we open ourselves up to Christ in His Church and the sacraments, she writes, we will become “like Jesus, little Christs, moment by moment, Eucharist by Eucharist, day by day.”
Andrew Junker is a staff writer for The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.
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