REFLECTION FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR A), Week beginning 12TH MARCH 2023
This Sunday, we reach the midpoint of Lent.
It is good for us to take stock at this midway moment.
Yes, we can reflect on the first half and make hoped-for resolutions for the second.
Jesus’ fasting for 40 days & nights illustrates for us not just that we, throughout life, detach ourselves from a desire for an excess of food and drink.
At the same time, it would have been prime time for His One-to-One engagement with God the Father.
From this, we learn that Fasting (and not just from food and drink in excess!) will have the effect of raising our individual spirit – the part of us, in and through which, we are “in the image and likeness of God.”
(For this is altogether something absolutely different from the oft-used expression of a thing “raising our spirits” or “cheering us up”. The expressions “comfort food” and “comfort eating” cover those situations).
The second half of this Holy Graced Season of Lent will be an excellent opportunity for us to feed more upon the Word of God in Sacred Scripture.
Maybe we can consider preparing or taking smaller portions of earthly food, so as to make time to seek out portions of Sacred Scripture for regular reading and prayerful reflection.
Such a choice will reward us and we will be, or soon become, inwardly conscious of such reward.
Of course, the Bible’s range of such portions is very broad. We might, for example, choose a Psalm a day for the remaining 20 days!
MAY YOUR SECOND HALF OF LENT
BE INWARDLY REWARDING AND
RICH IN BLESSINGS.
Good Shepherd Catholic Church 