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March 1
The other day, my friend Maria told me she was going to start a program called “40 Days / 40 Bags“. The idea is to fill a bag each day (anything from a sandwich bag to a large garbage bag) with items to throw out, recycle, or donate. Maria decided to do this during the 40 days of Lent. It reminded me of the ongoing saga of trying to clean out my Aunt’s house since she died two years ago. We’re still working on the basement and garage!One day, I completely filled a 30 gallon recycle bag with plastic containers she had stored in the basement. A child of the depression, she saved everything! It seems it will take 400 days and bags to clean out all her “stuff”!
Maria’s Lenten practice doesn’t seem like such a bad idea for me to also follow during Lent. I save articles that I probably will never read and clothes that I’ll probably never wear. I have scrap paper (just in case I need to write something down!) in every room - except the bathroom. My garage has dried out paint cans and coffee tins filled with screws and nails (left over from my father’s “stuff”.)
The clutter around me also serves as an apt metaphor for the clutter within me. Perhaps I can also use this Lenten season to examine the mental stuff I’ve accumulated and decide what I need to purge and what I need to hold, like the hurtful things people have said to me and the negative news I’m exposed to every day.
At the beginning of Lent each year, I used to read to my classes a reflection that in part said: “… I dare you to clear your life of junk this Lent: junk relationships, junk entertainment, junk pastimes…”* Hmm … Maybe I also need to delete some of the games on my iPad that I waste time with each day - indeed, junk entertainment. I do not have a Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok account. There’s nothing wrong with these forms of social media, but I know many people who spend so much time following how others live rather than truly living themselves. Lent is a perfect time to replace those activities with healthier habits like taking walks, reading a novel or spiritual book, or trying new ways to pray.
I invite you, as we begin the season of Lent tomorrow on Ash Wednesday, to ponder the “junk” in your life: physical … mental … emotional. An Examen at the end of each day might help. To paraphrase Marie Kondo’s suggestion of holding something and asking “Does it bring me joy?”, look at the “stuff” you’ve done each day and ask: “Did it bring me closer to God?”
Some questions to reflect on:
- What needlessly occupies your space? Your time? Your thoughts?
- How can you use this Lenten season to unclutter and “dejunk” your life?
Forty days can make a big difference!
In mercy,
Mary Pollini
* Amy Welborn, I Dare You to Take Lent Seriously’, Catholic News Service, 3/10/00 -
March 3
“Happy Lent!”
On Ash Wednesday, my junior year of college, I went to the early service to receive my ashes. I, then, made it to class just in time. As I walked into the choral room, one of the girls, that I knew in passing, came up to me and said, “Happy Lent!” Then she hugged me and said, “may the Spirit be with you in this time of love and inner reflection. Oh I just love Lent!”
I was gobsmacked. I must have had my mouth open with my eyes wide, befuddled. In all of my years of Sunday school I had never heard someone refer to the Lenten season in this way. It was always presented to me as a time to be somber, repenting for all the wrong I’ve done, and to give up something to make up for my sins (for me it was usually sweets or soda).
Every Lent the memory of this girl floats into my awareness. Finally, today, I think that I understand our encounter. Now that I’ve taken the time to sit and ponder, it’s quite simple! Of course Lent is a time of love. Yes, I am spending this time fasting, doing acts of service (almsgiving), and in prayer…but it is all leading up to the heart and soul of our religion, that Jesus gave His life for us out of immense love.
· “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Roman 5:8
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
· “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
· “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2
I could keep going with the Bible verses, but I think they already prove the point, that Jesus loved everyone on Earth at that time and everyone to come, so much that He laid down his life in order to save all of us from sin – with the hope eternal life.
Bam. Gobsmacked again. I had heard it so many times, but never truly felt it in my bones. Love from God sinking into my marrow and filling my soul. It certainly made me look at fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in a different light. I can do more that give up a cookie to show my love in return for Christ. I, too, can “love Lent” because in the end, Jesus loves me unconditionally.
In Mercy,
Jennifer Paragano -
March 6
Recently I was in NYC and stopped in the Hershey Store. While I was there, I saw a 2-pound KitKat bar! In and of itself not odd in that store but then I noticed on the wrapper it referred to the bar as snack size!!! I posted the photo on Facebook and received more likes for that photo than any other photo I posted that day. (120 likes). I guess we all enjoy our chocolate. The more the better!
When I was a kid one of my practices was to give up chocolate for Lent. As a kid that was a way for me to learn sacrifice. But I’m not a child anymore and perhaps it’s time to sacrifice in different ways. Sure, I can still “give up” things for Lent, but keeping in mind the scripture and Jesus’ example it seems that doing something more would be a better way for me to journey through Lent and beyond.
Yeah, there will be temptations to be self-centered. Look at today’s Gospel. And in those times of temptations, Psalm 91 (our responsorial psalm) is a good “go to” scripture. We’re reminded that God is there for us. We’re reminded we can’t do it alone. When it comes to faith, we’re not Lone Rangers! We’re in this together. We depend on God and dare I say, each other. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
I was tempted to start this reflection with the question: So, how’s your Lent going? Have you kept to your resolution(s)? But I think it might be better to say: Do I keeping depending on God, especially when I think, “I’ve got this?” Lent is certainly a journey, but it’s a journey we all take. As God is there for us, let’s be there for one another. Let’s allow God to work through us during Lent and beyond. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble (and even when I’m not in trouble)!
In Mercy,
George Farrell -
March 8
I journal daily and I was recently given this prompt, “Describe someone you love using all 5 senses…” Here is my response:
Above all, I love God. I try to put God first with my whole being. I say try because I realize that I am human and that makes me imperfect - and that's ok. So here I go tryingmy best to describe how God is presents for me.
Sight- God is everywhere for me and can be anyone. I like the phrase, God with skin on. Meaning, someone was so selfless and kind that it must have been a spiritual moment or God acting through them just for that moment. These moments happen all the time. I think that I notice them more when I put the cell phone down, (so hard to do!) and get myself into the present moment. Yes, the world can be pretty cruel at times, but that means that it also has its moments of true beauty. I may not know what God looks like the ethereal form, but I know that God is in us, in nature, and all around us in every moment – it’s our job to look.
Sound- God is beautiful music. God is my niece giggling. God is my dog making noises because she's dreaming in her sleep. God is rain against the window while I'm snuggling under the covers. God is that silence right after a big snowfall. God is then the crunchof the snow under heavy boots. God is the flickering of a candle and the crackling of a fire. God is my favorite song being played at just the right moment.
Touch - God is sand between my toes. God is warm breezes. God is that cold nip in the crisp autumn air. God is the squish of play-doh. God is the feeling of my dog’s fur in my hands when I need to calm down. God is getting into bed at night with clean sheets. God is the boughs of a live Christmas Tree.
Taste - God is my espresso drink from Starbucks...hands down! God is tasting a dish that instantly brings back a memory from childhood. God is bubble gum – POP! God is a popsicle on a summer day and a hot chocolate on a freezing day. Then, there’s always the Eucharist – the body and blood of Christ.
Smell- God is the smell of winter mornings, afternoon autumn breezes, and summer campfire nights. God is the smell of my Nonny's pasta - I will never smell it again, but I can still remember it. God is the sea breeze. God is the evergreen of Christmas.
I will forever worship God with all of my senses. AMEN.
In Mercy,
Jennifer Paragano -
March 10
I find beauty in rocks. There is something so solid and sure in them. I prefer to feel like I'm standing on solid ground, on rock, then on quicksand. I like to take a small rock as a souvenir from a special place when I visit somewhere that has meaning for me. My prayer table has a number of "significant" rocks all representing holy ground.
Today's guides Gospel assures us that if we ask we will receive, if we seek we will find, and if we knock the door will be opened. That sounds solid to me--it sounds like a rock. It's as if Jesus is assuring me--assuring all of us--that we can have a certainty in and with him. He does not promise that we will always receive what we ask for, but we WILL receive. After all, Jesus knows what we need more than we know that ourselves. Jesus isn't throwing rocks at us. He is offering us his love that is sure, true and solid.
In this first full week of Lent, I pray for faith as solid as rock. I pray that for myself, and I pray that for you.
In Mercy,
Laura M. Arvin, OP -
March 13
“THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION.”
The scriptures for this second Sunday of Lent reveal a God that is our light and our salvation. In our first reading, Genesis 15:5-12, God calls Abram and promises him a great nation. Yet even though Abram questions the Lord, he listens, trusts and follows the Lord’s instructions. And God fulfills his promises to Abram. In our second reading, Philippians 3:17, 4:1, Paul invites his followers to be surrounded by people who follow Jesus. He encourages them to live for Christ, to be like Him, and to rejoice in Him. He calls them to “stand firm in the Lord,” to have deep faith. And finally in Luke 9:28-36, Jesus takes Peter, John and James up the mountain to pray, where Jesus is transfigured and Moses and Elijah appear with him, speaking to him about his exodus. However Peter and his companions are overcome by sleep, and when fully awake, Peter is distracted by the thought of building tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Then while Peter is speaking, a cloud casts a shadow over them and they hear a voice saying, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.”
Lent is a time designed to reflect, examine and wake up. Today we are being called to discipleship more than ever, a discipleship that is just as strong as in the times of Abram, Paul, Peter and his companions. Are we listening, trusting and believing in God? We cannot fall asleep. We cannot live in a fog of our own doing. We must surround ourselves with people who follow Jesus. For life is not easy. As disciples, we will be called to sacrifice and suffer, but as in each scripture for today, the stories remind us to focus on the good, the promises, and the love of God. We must let go of the pains of the past and look to the future with hope. Perhaps we are missing some transfiguring moments, because we have not been fully awake. Lent offers us time to reexamine our life.
For reflection:
…How am I living as a disciple of Jesus today?
…Am I being distracted by the wrong things?
…How is God’s love transforming me?
In Mercy,
Paulette Cicero with the “Goddesses Prayer Group”
Pat Gadek, Karen Ewen, Carol Brandely -
March 15
How often do you catch yourself praying this - Dear Lord, thank you for the endless, tender mercy…Your mercy is as big as the ocean that bathes me in Mercy….Mercy, mercy, mercy. Nightly? Last week? Occasionally? Personally, I’m that last one…In prayer I have felt myself realizing that I am receiving from God what this quote speaks “Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. I’m super grateful for the Grace but I can miss the moments to Treasure the blessings of MERCY that God offers to me. Today’s gospel, is a wake-up call, a real aha moment.
God isn’t looking at “what we deserve”. What the woman caught in adultery shows us is that God hates the sin, but He always loves the sinner.
My sins are more like the shouting inner critic who makes me doubt my worth, the times I don’t deny myself and have missed the opportunity to give of myself, realize I’m beating myself up and God along with me or enjoying a self-righteous moment. So sorry God!
Although God hates those sins, God is always ready to grant me, meet me, bless me with Mercy, which is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to harm or punish. And God goes one step further in his care for me and for you, when he writes on the ground and asks anyone who is without sin cast the first stone. He doesn’t leave us standing with guilt and shame on display, but heals our hearts with his Mercy.
As if that’s not enough, Jesus goes overboard with generosity that cannot be outdone, generously giving such abundant mercy, while caught in the Pharisees cat and mouse game! The Pharisees, as they always do, are trying to testJesus. As I read in Thinking Faith. “Here they were trying to force Jesus to make a choice between accepting the Mosaic law which was for the woman to be stoned to death, incurring Roman displeasure, or comply with the Roman law and disregard the law of Moses to the disapproval of his fellow Jews. So even while being tempted, tested, trapped, a no-win situation for Jesus, He loves each one of us and as always, He chooses Us!
Jesus ignores them, writes on the ground, and then asks “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”. Then, as now, who among us sinners could throw a stone? This Lent, let’s approach this Gospel story with fresh perspective…Let’s hear God say to each of us what He said to that woman, “Then neither do I condemn you, or find you guilty. Go your way and from now on do not sin again.” John 8:11. Let’s savor and treasure the healing blessing of God’s beautiful Mercy lavished on us.
In Mercy,
Donna McCabe -