Two Days to Lent
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
How Do I Prepare Myself To Enter Into A Fruitful Lenten Season
Purifying Our Hearts: A Lenten Journey to God
James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Grace Prayed For
Lord, grant me the grace to draw near to you with a sincere and contrite heart. Cleanse my hands, purify my heart, and help me to overcome my ‘two minds.’ Help me to experience the intimacy of your presence during this Lenten season.
Reflection
“James 4:8 isn’t a mere suggestion; it’s a heartfelt invitation, a plea from God’s own heart: ‘Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.’ This verse cuts through the noise of our busy lives, reminding us that intimacy with God is not a passive experience, but an active pursuit. Lent is the perfect time to answer that invitation. It’s a season to shed the layers of distraction and pretense, to come before God with our vulnerabilities and longings.
- Prayer: To draw near to God in prayer during Lent, let’s be honest about our struggles. Let’s not just recite memorized prayers, but speak from the depths of our hearts. Let’s acknowledge our ‘two minds,’ our conflicting desires, and ask God to purify our hearts. Let us engage in prayer that does not focus on what we want, but on who God is, and who we are in relation to him. Let our prayer be a time of listening, a time of receiving His love.
- Fasting: Fasting in Lent should be more than just abstaining from food. It’s about recognizing the things that pull us away from God. What are the ‘unclean hands’ and ‘two minds’ in our lives? Is it pride, resentment, or the constant pursuit of worldly pleasures? Fasting is about creating space for God by letting go of those things that hinder our intimacy with him. When we feel the discomfort of fasting, let it be a reminder of our longing for God’s presence.
- Almsgiving: Almsgiving in Lent is about recognizing that we are all part of God’s family. It’s about sharing the love and mercy that God has shown us. Let’s look beyond our own needs and see the needs of those around us. Let’s give generously, not just of our material possessions, but of our time, our compassion, and our forgiveness. Let us see the face of Jesus in those we serve.
This Lent, let’s embrace the challenge of James 4:8. Let’s draw near to God, not with perfect piety, but with humble honesty. Let’s allow Him to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, so that we may experience the fullness of His love.”
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
James 4:8 emphasizes the importance of a personal and intimate relationship with God. Jesus, as the embodiment of God’s love, is the one who draws us near. By heeding the call to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, we are preparing ourselves to receive His love more fully. When we actively seek God, as this passage implores, we are actively seeking Jesus, and in doing so, we become more intimate with him. Lent is a time to accept the gift of jesus, and to draw near to him.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post