Ash Wednesday, March 1st
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting
this campaign of Christian service,
so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils,
we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
Make some time today to pray over and reflect on the Scriptures for Ash Wednesday. Click on the link below:
I see Lent as a blessed time of renewal. Experts have told us that it takes about six weeks to change a habit. If there is some behavior, or maybe even harder a negative attitude, you need to keep at the new practice for a good six weeks in order to really change.
Personally, I think it may take a bit longer than that, especially if the habit is deeply ingrained, but we may feel the harder thing is to just keep at it. I have known people, my own Father years ago, who had kicked the habit of smoking all on their own. Go "cold turkey" and just stop! Much easier said than done but why not begin? With the grace of God, all things are possible.
Personally, I think it may take a bit longer than that, especially if the habit is deeply ingrained, but we may feel the harder thing is to just keep at it. I have known people, my own Father years ago, who had kicked the habit of smoking all on their own. Go "cold turkey" and just stop! Much easier said than done but why not begin? With the grace of God, all things are possible.
Lent is a blessed six weeks of renewal. A call to get back to the basics and there is a plethora of material available on line and plenty of good resources all around for everyone. Take advantage of at least some of that. Begin with the sacred Scriptures and prayer. Below are links to several resources, and in particular lectio divina - prayer with the scriptures - that is easy for anyone.
Don't use "I don't have time" as an excuse. Because it is an excuse and not a reason. Most of the time we confuse excuses with reasons why we cannot do something. So, let's all dust off the old spirit, reorganize our life, and get back to the basics of prayer, sacrifice, and doing good for others. Maybe just begin by offering your day - all the things you normally do as a prayer to God. Look at those things you really don't enjoy and offer them as prayerful sacrifices. It is to begin with a change of attitude and perspective - how you see and feel about such things. That's something we can all do.
Then, get in to the tougher things like changing a habit. But, do all in a spirit of prayer. While we have will power, we all know that we also have limits. Excuses become reasons and those "reasons" become cause for inaction.
Lord, be with us this Lent and help us to never give up.
A good resource for Prayer:
More will come.
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