Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Again this year I will be offering “Songs for Lent,” daily reflections on a verse or verses from the lectionary, embellished with images and music, a link to the readings, and a prayer. In Lent, these meditations will focus on the responsorial psalm, since the psalms lend themselves so beautifully to prayer, indeed, can…
Song 15: How Firm a Foundation
March 6/Second Friday of Lent When the LORD called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them,He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave. ~ Ps 105.16-17 Origin stories are important, conferring lasting lessons and foundational values to those who come afterwards. A sprawling family reveres and emulates the perseverance and hard…
Song 14: Dust in the Wind
March 5/Second Thursday of Lent They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season,and their leaves do not wither.Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. ~ Ps 1.3,…
Song 13: Prowlers
March 4/Second Wednesday of Lent For I hear the whispering of many—terror all around!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”~ Ps 31.14-15 Anyone who follows the news at all does not need reminding that we live in a polarized society. The idea…
Song 12: Keeping Up Appearances
March 3/Second Tuesday of Lent “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?To him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” ~ Ps 50.16-17, 23 One winter afternoon while I was chatting with a friend, her husband heard me make…
Song 11: The Low Country
March 2/Second Monday of Lent Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low. ~ Ps 79.8-9 Sometimes it seems that our troubles come not one by one, gradually, but in swarms. A relationship is troubled, we trip and sprain an ankle, the dog gets sick, we have…
Song 10: All In
February 28/First Saturday of Lent Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart. ~ Ps 119.2 How many of us can honestly say that we seek God with our whole hearts? Do we make a genuine effort to carve out time for daily prayer and reflection — or do we let the press of…
Song 9: The Quality of Mercy
February 27/First Friday of Lent If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand?But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. ~ Psalm 130.3-4 For me, forgiveness is one of the hardest imperatives of faith. I know that holding onto anger or resentment harms me more than it affects the perceived offender, and I know, too, that…
Song 8: Hands Together
February 26/First Thursday of Lent Your right hand saves me. Forsake not the work of your hands.~ Psalm 138.7-8 Take a moment to look at your hands. Think about everything you might do with them this day. You might create (making a meal, playing the piano, or crafting a memo), comfort (caressing a spouse’s furrowed forehead, knocking on the door…
Song 7: Giving It Up
February 25/First Wednesday of Lent For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God,you will not despise. ~ Ps 51. 18-19 When I was a little girl, the impending arrival of Lent brought on…
Song 6: Are You There, God?
February 24/First Tuesday of Lent I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. ~ Ps 34.5, 7, 18 The other day…