Lenten Thoughts (Day 11): If we obey

‘You have today made this declaration about the Lord: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and listen to his voice. And the Lord has today made this declaration about you: that you will be his very own people as he promised you, but only if you keep all his commandments; then for praise and renown and honour he will set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will be a people consecrated to the Lord, as he promised.’ - Deuteronomy 26:16-19

The Lord's commandments are set to guide our path toward Him in Heaven. When we break those guides we fail to live as His children. May we constantly be aware when we fail to walk by the path God has set for us, and constantly get back on track.

Lenten Thoughts (Day 10): Noisy intruders?

The word of the Lord was addressed a second time to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened. - Jonah 3:1-10

An outsider in a foreign land pointing out the locals' evils will certainly not be welcomed, but here, Jonah is accepted. Surprisingly, his prophetic words are heeded.

How often in our lives did an outsider point to the obvious? What kind of reception do we give to peoples' criticisms, especially those we consider enemies?

Therapy can be very difficult at times. Advice from friends and family can be stinging. Pride and ego want no part of this correction. I want to believe that I know all that I need to know, but of course I don't. An outsiders' perspective can literally be a life-saving one.

This season of penitence and repentance, let us all be more attentive and more receptive to criticism from others. Give me a little nudge, Lord, to listen and heed when others offer me sound advice.

Re-written from My Daily Visitor.

Lenten Thoughts (Day 9): Mourning to dancing

"The young girl will dance for joy, young men and old men too. 'I will turn their weeping into gladness,' says the Lord,

'I will comfort them and give them joy after sorrow'." - Jeremiah 31:13

As we deny ourselves, may we experience true happiness and fullness of joy when we celebrate the Lord's resurrection.

Lenten Thoughts (Day 8): In fear and trembling

"Work for your salvation in fear and trembling, for it is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, you will be children of God." - Philippians 2:12-15

Paul reminds us plainly not to take God's love, mercy and forgiveness for granted. May we work tirelessly in building this relationship we have with our Saviour, who has given us the strength necessary to see through these 40 days.

Lenten Thoughts (Day 7): Remember who you are

The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’
Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’

The devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then, and it shall all be yours.’
Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’

‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said to Him, ‘throw yourself down from here, for scripture says:
He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again: They will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’
Jesus answered him, ‘It has been said: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time.

- Luke 4:1-13 (abstract)

The devil constantly challenges our identity as God's children.

In Luke's story of the temptations of Christ, we realise that Christ lowered Himself so much that He suffered temptation. Yet, in His hunger and time of need, He was always sure of who He was. Jesus relied on His relationship with His Father, the devil could not break the will of the Son.

The first week of Lent is almost out. Have we used the first seven days well? Being part of the agreement is only the beginning.

Satan has no right to control our lives; he is in no position to say "If you are God's son, you should do this", or "if you are God's daughter, you should do that".

This penitential season, may we stay awake and remain alert to the devil's temptations. Let us always remember our identity as God's children, and never let the temptor deceive us out of our true identity.

Lenten Thoughts (Day 6): Out of love, not routine

"During this season we are invited to establish or rebuild our pieties and devotions: more focused prayer, more frequent celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; praying the ancient devotion of the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross). We cannot choose a piety or devotion out of fear."
- Fr Thomas Rosica, CSB, 16 Feb (see full article)

May our Lenten actions and sacrifices be done out of a pure desire to cleanse ourselves, and not out of mere routine. Let us put in our effort to pray, love and grow this penitential season!

Lenten Thoughts (Day 5): Christ, our example

"Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path.

He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit;

when they cursed him, he did not curse them;

when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to the one just judge.

He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree,

so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness."
- 1 Peter 2

By our actions this Lent, may we strive to justify Christ's death on the cross for us, by our own willing death to our selves and by our efforts to live for Him.