I hope you are enjoying the Scriptures selected to help us begin our reading and reflection journey through Lent to the cross and empty tomb.
Remember,
Lent is a time for sacrifice and self-examination, for increased self-awareness and God-awareness, for spiritual refocus and renewing our conversion, for seeing our own need for Grace, and for opening our hearts to be more captured by Jesus’ love.
I discourage any practice in Lent that detracts from the work of salvation accomplished by Jesus on the cross. Yes, let the Scriptures push us toward humble acknowledgement that we, like Israel before us, have fallen far short of God’s ideal for what it means to be human. But by all means, let these sacred texts clarify that God is the relentless hound of heaven, pursuing you and me with an unquenchable love. He requires nor desires our attempt at appeasing him by acts that earn forgiveness.
Even this practice of reading can easily be turned into labor that makes us feel better about how God might view us. Read, reflect, rest, ponder, and let his words guide.
Here are the readings for Week 2 | February 15-20