I'm am reminded of a great sermon I once heard at church on the subject of Lent; the practice of some Christians to "give up something" from Ash Wednesday until Easter as a display of devotion to our Lord.
This priest suggested that instead of giving up things we really like: chocolate, beer, meat, sweets, pizza, maybe it would be better to consider giving up all the things that are REALLY "bad" for us? Things which bring us unhappiness and misery such as hate, being short tempered, being too hard on ourselves. Giving up gossip or anger...giving up jealousy and envy. The priest suggested that maybe God would want us to give up the things that take away the joy of life, rather than symbolic displays of self-denial that really aren't bad for us in the first place? I thought it was a refreshing viewpoint, and it was the last time I gave up something I enjoyed, for Lent. I've since tried to give up the things I hold onto that make life unhappy. Either way, have a good Lent season and regardless of what you feel, better say it NOW, because I fear in another year, Christian thought and ideas will start to be censured on social media.
As posted by Jim Harper on Facebook
A photograph taken after mass a few years back
on Ash Wednesday
In other words this selfie is my ASH tag#
smiles
God is Love,
wherever you find pure love,
there you meet God.
Prem Tihan (Shafiq)
by your passion, death and resurrection
ou have set us free from sin and death.
May your grace renew our hearts this Lent
and help us turn from sin in our lives.
May we learn to appreciate more deeply the sacrifice you made for us.
Accept our prayer, fasting and acts of charity as wee seek to
draw closer to you during this holy season.
Strengthen the faith of your people so that we may be a sign of your love to all the world.
Amen
What Is Lent?
Lent is the penitential season of approximately 40 days set aside by the Church in order for the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. During this holy season, inextricably connected to the Paschal Mystery, the Catechumens prepare for Christian initiation, and current Church members prepare for Easter by a recalling of Baptism and by works of penance, that is, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Even in the early Church, Lent was the season for prayerful and penitential preparation for the feast of Easter. Though the obligation of penance was originally only imposed on those who had committed public sins and crimes, by medieval times all the faithful voluntarily performed acts of penance to repair for their sins.
— Lent is the penitential season of approximately 40 days set aside by the Church in order for the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. During this holy season, inextricably connected to the Paschal Mystery, the Catechumens prepare for Christian initiation, and current Church members prepare for Easter by a recalling of Baptism and by works of penance, that is, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Even in the early Church, Lent was the season for prayerful and penitential preparation for the feast of Easter. Though the obligation of penance was originally only imposed on those who had committed public sins and crimes, by medieval times all the faithful voluntarily performed acts of penance to repair for their sins.
Remember you are dust and it is to dust you shall be returned.
This Lent work metanoia on me
by turning: pride into humility,
anxiety into acceptance,
frugality into generosity,
criticism into praise,
...coldness into warmth,
neglect into concern,
indifference into love,
grudges into joy,
ingratitude into thankfulness,
prayerlessness into devotion
at the foot of the cross.
Lord take the clay,
Begin the shaping in preparation
for the wedding feast of the Lamb.
There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends.
That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first.
when you learn to live for others, they will live for you. ♥
My religion is kindness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K93aPRE5-jo&feature=related
A beautiful angel meditation
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
╬♥═╬╬═♥=╬╬═♥╬╬═♥╬╬═♥=╬╬♥═╬░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Make yourself a blessing to someone.
Your kind smile or pat on the back
just might pull someone back from the edge."
~Carmelia Elliot
Peter 4:8 (NIV)
Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.
~George Sand
“If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh
Dear Lord...
Give me strength... so I may uplift those who are weak
Give me courage... so I may rescue those in despair
Give me peace... so I may soothe those in turmoil
Give me food... so I may feed those who are hungry
Give me light... so I may drive away the darkness in the lives of others
Give me love... so I may douse the pain of others
I ask for strength, courage, peace, food, light and love.
May we have the strength to feel someone else's pain more than we feel our own. A prayer is that which benefits others... not ourselves. Today let us pray and bless those around us. God Bless you all!
― Thích Nhất Hạnh
Dear Lord...
Give me strength... so I may uplift those who are weak
Give me courage... so I may rescue those in despair
Give me peace... so I may soothe those in turmoil
Give me food... so I may feed those who are hungry
Give me light... so I may drive away the darkness in the lives of others
Give me love... so I may douse the pain of others
I ask for strength, courage, peace, food, light and love.
May we have the strength to feel someone else's pain more than we feel our own. A prayer is that which benefits others... not ourselves. Today let us pray and bless those around us. God Bless you all!
