Joel 2:12-18, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Well, it’s the second day of Lent. We survived the crowded church of Ash Wednesday, the breakfast without bacon, the growling of our stomachs, and we may have even started to feel the pinch of that “thing” we decided to offer to God this year. But, hopefully we also felt the excitement of a new challenge. You know that feeling that comes with a new project where you can see the end goal, but you know it’s going to take some work. Whenever I’m trying something out of my comfort zone, I do my research. I read articles or books. I listen to podcasts and watch videos. And I talk with people who have successfully tried it themselves. 

In order to help God create a new heart in us, we need to do the same. Obviously, joining us on this journey to encounter Christ is a good start. Having a daily reminder to open the Scriptures, discover stories from others, and hear God’s voice in them both can help us to build the habit of creating space for conversation with our Father. That means sometimes we talk and sometimes we listen. And in that exchange, He can show us where our strengths and weaknesses lie. Consider these reflections a part of your tool-box for Lent. 

Here are some simple steps to help you make the most of the next few weeks. Open the reflection when you know you have some time, whether it’s in the morning over coffee, during your lunch break, or in the evening before bed. Grab your bible and look at the readings listed at the top of the message. We will be focusing on Ash Wednesday’s Scriptures for the next couple of days, and then after that, the Sunday readings will hold our attention through that week. Each message on Sunday will unpack a theme. Then Monday-Saturday will be a personal story from a parishioner here at Holy Family. So, start with Scripture and move to the testimony. Today, spend some time in the readings above. 

Don’t be worried about reading the same passages over and over all week. There is a gift in repetition. It allows our minds to slow down and uncover something new. It allows the Holy Spirit to direct our attention to the things He wants us to see. Place yourself in the story and think about how those who are meeting Jesus react. How does it make you feel? Where is Christ meeting you? And it’s okay if you don’t get through every line. Maybe it is simply one phrase that grabs your attention. Don’t hurry through it. Stop and meditate and listen to His voice. 

Then take a moment to read the testimony from our author that day. Let the story rest with you. Does anything within their words ring true for you too? Does it make you aware of your own suffering or blessing? What does the Lord want to heal in you as you read and reflect? Maybe you feel joy and gratefulness welling up inside and want to praise the Lord. Or maybe it just warms your heart and nothing more. All of these responses are valid. Just spend a moment thinking and praying after you finish and then let the Scripture, the testimony, and your time with the Lord carry you through your day or evening. This a powerful tool to shape and form you into the person that God is calling you to be by the time Lent is over. 

Our Reflection Team is praying for you every day. Please join us in praying for all the writers and each person who signed up to walk this journey together. Our collective prayers, when brought before Christ, will bring forth grace upon grace.