Ash Wednesday Reflection from the Liturgy of the Hours...

Today God our Father brings us to the beginning of Lent. We pray that in this time of salvation he will fill us with the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. Let us humbly ask him: Lord, give us your Holy Spirit.

May we be filled and satisfied, by the word which you give us.

Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments, but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.

May we abstain from what we do not really need, and help our brothers and sisters in distress.

May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies, for through his body he gave us life.

-from the Liturgy of the Hours for Ash Wednesday (Petitions for Morning Prayer)

I thought this was an elegantly simple overview of what Lent is all about. It would be an appropriate prayer for every day in Lent (and a good one to post on the fridge). It seems like a perfect concept for this blog as it so eloquently shows us how to keep aiming in the right direction - with a gentle reminder of what we're all about and the appropriate actions that go hand-in-hand with our beliefs.

The part that jumps out especially for me right now is this: "Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments, but above all in the ordinary events of daily life." I know that's something that I need to be continually reminded of.

 

A Blessed Lent!