At the Retreat & Conference Center today, we are welcoming guests for our Ash Wednesday retreat as we usher in the season of Lent. How are you marking the beginning of this sacred time? May you feel God’s Presence during this special sacred season.
Let us pray…
Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination.
The days stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that holds your Spirit.
This special time beckons me to see my life through Christ’s eyes and the truth and reality of your love incarnate.
Give me the grace to enter the space of these days with anticipation of our meeting.
And, when I open my soul to your presence, let your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my heart.
I ask this for the sake of your love.
~Amen
Lent is a time to focus on prayer in our homes too. Here are a few ideas that can get you started:
- Create a prayer space
- Practice silence
- Meditate
- Read
- Seek beauty in nature
- Seek reconciliation
Lent is a time to fast and to feast.
Fast from judging others. Feast on the Christ within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences. Feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness. Feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness. Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute. Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent. Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger. Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism. Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry. Feast on divine order.
Fast from lethargy. Feast on enthusiasm.
~Margaret Murray, CSJ
2 replies on “A Time to Fast and to Feast”
Yesterday was the 1st day of Lent, and although I decided to leave the crosses of my past on Golgotha and look to the Resurrection, I had a new cross to carry: my precious son-in-law (whom I love like a son) has been fighting a vicious disease (since 2014) and has a severely compromised immune system. After 3 weeks of fighting an unknown virus, he ended up in the hospital yesterday (doctors are still trying to determine which virus – so they can treat him properly). I have asked Christ to help our family carry this new cross at the beginning of this Holy Season of Lent. All I can do is ‘let go and let God’ and know that God’s Love Energy is Healing Energy. For anyone who may read this post, I also ask for a prayer for my son-in-law.
So sorry to hear this, Judith. Sending prayers for your son-in-law, and for you and all of your family members.