A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 2/21

Check all that apply:

___ I had no idea that February 18 was Ash Wednesday.

___ I knew February 18 was Ash Wednesday but I forgot!

___ I remembered February 18 was Ash Wednesday
        - but I was too busy to get to church.

___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday.

___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday and have been
   faithfully praying, fasting and serving the poor
for three days now.

___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday
   but haven't thought much about it since.

No matter which one(s) you checked, you can be sure of 3 things:
   - God loves you
   - God welcomes you to the season of Lent
   - God wants you to grow in your spiritual life
         in the six weeks between now and Easter.

So it's not too late to start living the season of Lent!

Take a few minutes today to decide
   - how you might be more faithful to prayer this Lent...
   - how you might give up or let go some things
   that come between you and your love for God and neighbor...
   - how you might, in the 6 weeks ahead, reach out to those in need...

For help and working on those three items, just scroll down here
   for ideas and suggestions...

And let's all pause for prayer:

Lord, however faithful or jumbled
has been the beginning of Lent in my life,
I trust that you still call me to live this season
as a way of growing in faith and love.

Keep me from being discouraged by my mistakes
and open my eyes to all the ways
you wait for me, to help me grow.

Help me remember that it's no sin
to be a few days late in beginning the season of Lent,
that the greater mistake would be to give up
and let this opportunity for grace pass me by.

If I've made a good start, make me stronger in my resolve.
If I've made a half-hearted beginning, jump-start my efforts.
If I've not yet begun at all, send your Spirit to get me moving.

O God of second chances and new beginnings,
help me find in the weeks ahead
a season of grace and prayer and peace.

Amen.

(If your Lent has had a rocky beginning, a great way to get things moving
would be to come to church this weekend for Mass on the First Sunday of Lent!)