The First Week of Lent

The First Week of Lent 26 February–4 March 2023

Something to think and pray about each day this week:

The days of spring lengthen and Lent echoes nature, inviting us as well to a new springtime of faith. As in farming and gardening, there is work to be done if new growth is to flourish or even to happen at all. We have to look back and see what has done well and what has, in effect, died off. We need to make space by clearing the ground and looking at ourselves honestly. It would be good to identify what will feed and sustain us during this journey from the ashes of Ash Wednesday to the new birth of Easter. Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA, Hearers of the Word: Praying and Exploring the Readings for Lent and Holy Week

The Presence of God

I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me. I am created in the image and likeness of God; I am God’s dwelling place.

Freedom

Lord, you granted me the great gift of freedom. In these times, O Lord, grant that I may be free from any form of racism or intolerance. Remind me that we are all equal in your loving eyes.

Consciousness

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally, I can afford to be honest about how I am. How has the day been, and how do I feel now? I share my feelings openly with the Lord.

The Word

I take my time to read the word of God slowly, a few times, allowing myself to dwell on anything that strikes me.

(Please turn to the Scripture on the following pages. Inspiration points are there, should you need them. When you are ready, return here to continue.)

Conversation

Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet you in person, Lord. I think I might say, ‘Thank you’ because you are always there for me.

Conclusion

I thank God for these moments we have spent together and for any insights I have been given concerning the text.

Sunday 26 February First Sunday of Lent

Matthew 4:1–11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

“He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’

Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will

give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. • What is the spirit trying to tell me in this story?

Am I aware of my own particular ‘temptations’ that make trouble for me in my life? Do I find wisdom and guidance in Scripture to help me cope with difficulties in my life? Let us consider where Jesus found inspiration and guidance throughout his life.

Monday 27 February

Matthew 25:31–46 Jesus said to them, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to

drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ • The things we are asked to do are so simple: give food and drink to ‘Jesus’ in those who are hungry

and thirsty; to clothe ‘Jesus’ in those who are naked; to visit ‘Jesus’ in those who are sick and in jail. Whether we realise it or not, every time we spontaneously take care of a brother or sister in need it is Jesus himself we are serving.

Tuesday 28 February

Matthew 6:7–15 Jesus said to them, ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

‘Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do

not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ • The Our Father is so familiar it is hard to be really present to the words we say. Maybe try to just focus on one phrase like ‘hallowed be your name’. What is this phrase saying to me right now? • How might ‘hallowing his name’ look in my life today? Which phrases in the Our Father give me the greatest comfort and the greatest challenge?

Wednesday 1 March

Luke 11:29–32 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!’

• Where do I see ‘signs’ of God’s activity in my life?

Maybe in nature; family; friends; random acts of kindness; poverty; the homeless? • ‘Something greater than Solomon is here’. Do I catch glimpses of this reality? Help me to have eyes to see and a heart open enough to allow me to become aware of your presence and action in my life.

Thursday 2 March

Matthew 7:7–11 Jesus said, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!’ • Prayer is never wasted. Good things come in prayer, but perhaps not what someone asks for.

Prayer opens the heart for good things from God.

Be grateful at the end of prayer for time spent with the God of all goodness. Prayer time is always productive time in making us people of more love.

Suscipe

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will,

all I have and call my own. You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace; that is enough for me.

—St. Ignatius of Loyola

Prayer to Know God’s Will

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness To give us all abundant grace Ever to know his most holy will And perfectly to fulfill it.

—St. Ignatius of Loyola