“Remember not the events of the past. See, I am doing something new!” Isaiah. 43:16
The Lenten journey is moving along quickly, and several have spoken to me regarding their inability to focus on the inner journey due to the “noise” they are bombarded with through newscasts, social media, newspapers. There seems to be so much uncertainty, darkness, anxiety, doubt, powerlessness. So many things that are contrary to the Gospel message of welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, helping the least, the lost, the last.
I am personally praying the “Serenity Prayer” daily and remembering that everything is in God’s hands. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”
Furthermore, the Lenten journey is allowing God to make all things new and allow God to do something new in our hearts. We have been focusing on a “Listening Heart” and sometimes I allow music to remind me of the many ways God speaks to us, and we communicate, speak and pray to God. Durning Lent these “song prayers” help me to focus on what God is doing in my spiritual journey, for example:
“Change my heart Oh Lord, make it ever new” take time to reflect on the ways God is working in your heart. What has changed in you, your attitude, your relationships, your friendships, your ability to listen to the word of God. The journey is not over, let God do something new in you.
“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” Pope Francis begs us to hear the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth. Are you taking that opportunity to listen to those who are living in fear? I myself find it hard to imagine that we are in the United States and many people in our country are living in fear, and many of our neighboring countries are in fear of our nation. I pray “Open the eyes of my heart Lord!’ May I have the courage to walk with those who huddle in fear, may I bring hope in this Jubilee year.
The Lenten journey is moving quickly. Don’t get weighed down by the past but focus on the “New” that God wants to do in you this Lenten Season!