“Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, serves as associate pastor of Maternity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Church in Bourbonnais, IL, where one of his roles has been to lead the RCIA program for the parish. Here, he reflects on how that journey with adults, causes all of us to re-examine our own spiritual journey.
“One of the aspects of our Lenten observance that may be overlooked is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and the number of people who are entering into the stage of purification and enlightenment. 
“The time is near when our catechumens, who are called the Elect will enter into the waters of baptism, be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit in confirmation, and join us in full communion, receiving their first Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Another group of people, the candidates also will profess their faith and join us at the table of the Lord.
We are all engaged in the RCIA process. We are the ones with whom the neophytes will share in full communion, but to what kind of community will they be welcomed?
Just as they are asked to scrutinize their lives in the celebration of the Scrutinies, so we too look at our own lives.
“The scrutinies are meant to uncover — and then heal — all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect,” the RICA guidelines state, “to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good.”
We too join our elect and candidates in scrutinizing our lives for the same purpose. We too are the elect of God, no matter when or where we have entered the waters of baptism, and no matter when or where we completed the sacraments of initiation.
May we too share in the joy of our elect and candidates, as they joyfully emerge from the waters of baptism and join us for the first time in full communion, for the RCIA is a process into which all of us enter, for we all are continually being called to conversion.