Twice a month, for over 20 years, I had the privilege of bringing The Eucharist to and praying with Catholic residents in a local nursing home.

Last summer, my 92 year old mother moved in with my wife and myself as she was unable to continue to live alone.  For many years, Mom attended daily Mass and was an active worker in her parish.

Since she has been with us, I have been permitted to bring her The Eucharist on Sunday after Mass.  This has been a special time for us to pray.

Over time, Mom has gotten weaker and I hear the same questions from her that I heard from the nursing home residents I visited.  Why doesn't God take me?  Why am I going through this?  Why doesn't God answer my prayers?  Why do some people suffer while others die a quick death?  Why do some people die very young while others linger on for many years?

The season of Lent helps us answer these questions.  If we align ourselves with the suffering of Jesus, fully acknowledging that God did not forsake Jesus but was with Him every moment of his life and especially during his agony and death we have the answers to my mother's and our questions.

God did not forget Jesus and He won't forget us.  Scripture tells us that if God takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies in the fields how much more will he take care of us.

Our human nature leads us to believe that we control our destiny - we have the power to steer our lives where we want to go.  I tell my mother that when we are helpless, we need to take our hands off the steering wheel, turn our lives over to God and Let Go and Let God.

Al Krempa