March 7/First Saturday of Lent Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. ~ Ps. 119.1-2 Who among us can honestly look in the mirror and say that her way is blameless, or that he truly walks in the law of…
Song 9: Just Deserts
March 6/First Friday of Lent If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. ~ Ps 130.3-4 For some time now — for too long a time — one of the ruling dynamics in our civic discourse has been the “gotcha” mode. We revel in calling one another out,…
Song 8: Handiwork
March 5/First Thursday of Lent Your right hand delivers me. Forsake not the work of your hands. ~ Ps 138.7-8 Take a moment to look at your hands. Think about everything you might do with them this day. You may put them together in prayer before you rise out of bed. You may create (making a meal or typing a memo),…
Song 7: No Stain Unturned
March 4/First Wednesday of Lent Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ~ Ps 51.4, 12 After raising four children, I thought I knew a thing or two about laundry. But I nearly met my match with the challenges of the clothes…
Song 6: The Hospitality Suite
March 3/First Tuesday of Lent Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. ~ Ps 34.4 A friendly “hello” to visitors after Mass. A weekly church supper that draws seniors, neighbors, and students from the nearby college campus. A colorful banner hoisted on the church portico welcoming visitors to the religious services within. These are but a…
Song 5: Addressing the Lord
March 2/First Monday of Lent Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Ps 19.15 What does it mean for “the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart” to “find favor” before God? To put it another way, what is the…
Song 4: User Manual
February 29/Saturday after Ash Wednesday Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.Be gracious to me, O LORD, for to you do I cry all day long.Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I…
Song 3: Me Do It!
February 28/Friday after Ash Wednesday Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. ~ Ps 51.3-4 Pulling the orange and yellow polka-dotted shirt and the red and blue and pink plaid shorts out of the drawer, the…
Song 2: It’s the Journey
February 27/Thursday after Ash Wednesday Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent;But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. ~ Ps 1.1-2 “Are we there yet?” Before the omnipresence of those personal screens that…
Song 1: Owning It
February 26/Ash Wednesday For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” ~ Ps 51.5-6 Ever since that fateful evening in the garden of Eden when Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, we humans have shown ourselves incredibly adept at pointing…