Lenten Nuggets

A contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not spurn.  Psalm 51:98

So here we are just past the half way point of Lent. Remember the passion and commitment burning in your heart on Ash Wednesday?  How is it now?  For some, the fire is still burning, perhaps for others things haven’t taken quite the same path you planned a few weeks ago.  No matter where you are right now, we have a few weeks to finish strong and head into Holy Week with a greater peace, hope and joy.  I have come across a few Lenten nuggets of thought as I’ve payed my way through the first half of Lent.  Some are an inspiration and some a straight up whacks to the side of the head.  I thought I’d share some of them with you so you can ponder and pray on them too.

*Lent is about grace.  God knows that we will fall short in our Lenten penances.  That’s why Jesus endured his passion and death.  If we could do it on our own, Christ died for nothing.

*Jesus in not calling  us to perfect outcome when it comes to loving others. But when we stop seeing people as problems and start seeing them as pearls we can be sure that we are beginning to love them.

*God will pardon a repentant sinner more quickly than a mother would snatch her child out of the fire. St. John Vianney

*We must forgive all the time.  We must forgive everyone.  We must forgive even when we think we cant.

*A quiet presence in the life of someone struggling is better than a lengthy speech.

*Lord, use me to reveal your love to today.

*Lord close my mouth and calm my heart when I lose my patience and arguments begin to bubble up around me.

*Gluttony crowds God’s spirit and envy eats joy.

*Lord help me trade ego for empathy and help me remember humility and humiliation are not the same thing.

A Seed To Plant:  Pick one of the nuggets from the list above and spend a few days praying with it and see where the Holy Spirit leads you.​

Blessings on your day!