Thursday of 3rd Week of Lent: reflection

Theme: LENT: 20 MORE DAYS TO GO

Readings: Jer 7:23–28; Lk 11:14–23

The Lenten season is a 40-day spiritual journey marked by prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and reconciliation with God. We are halfway through this 40-day journey, with only 20 days remaining to end the Lenten Season. Perhaps, today invites us to pause and reflect on how effectively we have managed this journey, taking note of the successes and the failures. We may wish to review our goals from when we began this journey on Ash Wednesday and take note of the spiritual activities that are yet to get adequate attention, so that our energy might be directed toward them throughout the remaining 20 days.

The gospel reading and the first reading of today offer us some guidance as we pause, reflect, and maybe re-strategize for the remaining 20 days of Lent. In connection with the storyline of today’s gospel, it would be beneficial to examine ourselves to see whether we have been able to cast out some of the demons within us, demons who manifest themselves via bad habits and immoral goals. We should also reflect on whether we have been for or against Christ in everything we have done during the last 20 days.

Then, through the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah invites us to examine whether we have lived our lives these past 20 days according to God’s commandments or if we have continued to shut our ears to God’s invitations to repentance preached to us by God’s messengers.

We still have more 20 days of grace to make significant changes in our lives to be able to enjoy the full benefits of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection.

May the Lord guide and protect you as you confront the challenges of today, and may success be yours. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima