The Scrutinites

During Lent especially, parishioners are exposed to the adults going through a process called the R.C.I.A. or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Although much of the formation of these men and women is done in evening gatherings, as Lent advances and Easter approaches, the community takes a more active role in witnessing the journeys of these people.

Throughout the year, as they discerned their calling to be a disciple of Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition, these men and women participated in a Rite of Acceptance. Then, at the beginning of Lent, there was the Rite of Sending in which those who were accepted were sent to the Rite of Election or, if they had already been baptized, to the Rite of Continuing Conversion. This involved getting out of their comfort zone – this parish! – and taking part in a rite involving the bishop.

What’s left for those participating in R.C.I.A.? Those who were accepted and then sent will now be taking part in the Scrutinies. The Scrutinies are short liturgical rites that invoke the grace and power of the Holy Spirit and call the Elect out of the darkness of evil and sin and into the light of Christ. The Scrutinies serve many purposes for the Elect, including calling on the intercession of the parish community as these men and women prepare for the Easter sacraments. Another purpose of the Scrutinies is to purify the catechumens’ minds and hearts and strengthen them against temptation. The three rites, which take place on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, help make them firm in their resolve, so that they become more closely united with Christ and make progress in their efforts to love God more deeply.

Each of the three Scrutinies is based on a Gospel reading with the theme of conversion and coming into the light of Christ. These are the stories of the Woman at the Well, the Blind Beggar, and the Raising of Lazarus.

While these Scripture readings are proclaimed for the benefit of the catechumens, the stories offer we who are already baptized and among the Elect something to think about as we prepare for the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. We, too, scrutinize our lives through the biblical examples. The woman at the well leaves behind her bucket, the blind man runs off and forgets the cloak in which he caught the coins of his beggary, and Lazarus leaves behind an empty tomb. What will we leave behind to follow Jesus? As we ponder that, we understand that, like those in R.C.I.A., we are all still on the journey.