March 17 Lenten Devotional

LIVING, LEARNING & LOVING during LENT

Lenten devotionals for March and April. We will focus on a different concept each day of the week: Sundays: Resting/Taking Sabbath Mondays: Fasting Tuesdays: Giving Wednesdays: Serving Thursdays: Praying Fridays: Studying/Learning Saturdays: Celebrating/Playing.

Second Week: Repentance and Renewal

March 17 (Monday – Fasting)

• Scripture: Joel 2:12-13 –
  Yet even now, says the Lord,
      return to me with all your heart,
  with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
      rend your hearts and not your clothing.
  Return to the Lord your God,
      for he is gracious and merciful,
  slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
      and relenting from punishment.
• Reflection: Fasting includes the intent to connect with the Holy Spirit. In part, this begins by using only what we need, and trusting that whatever else we may require will be provided. It also means eliminating some of the ‘noise’ in the world around us. Fasting is an invitation to simplify your life in some way, so that you can focus on what matters  to you.
• Spiritual Practice Prompt: Choose an information outlet, or some other form of external stimulus, that adds stress or busy-ness to your life, and let it go for Lent.

Now there was a twist clearly. Fasting was about something more than simple deprivation. Obviously fasting was supposed to add something to our lives as well as to take something away. It was meant to sensitize us to life more than it was to deprive us of it. — Sr. Joan Chittister