Enthusiasm

Most of us find ourselves enlivened in the presence of enthusiastic people, but some, feeling that the presence of such exuberance is phony, criticize and discourage such displays of enthusiasm.  The Greek origin of enthusiasm  is en thous --in or by God, or "possessed by God".  If enthusiasm is genuine, it is a gift of God, it is God's presence in us or in another person.  As we move into the second week of Lent, we might find our initial enthusiasm waning, but if we step back and reflect on the presence of God within is and within others, our energy level will rise and keep us on track. As a characteristic aspect of Marist spirituality, realizing that we are "possessed by God" enables us to overcome the "lows" that come from fatigue, mistakes in judgement, sins, disappointments or failure to live up to our own expectations of the expectations others place on us.  These can weigh us down, even flatten us out, unless we turn all of them over to God and allow that Spirit of his to revivify and reanimate us. It's a matter of "letting go" of these weights, and allowing the Spirit to buoy us up and exercise his/her rightful  possession of us again; in a word,  to restore our enthusiasm
Bro. Rene