March 11/Second Wednesday of Lent Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. ~ Ps 31.6 You step into the center of the circle — full of doubt, if you are like me — close your eyes, and let yourself fall into the arms of your encircling colleagues. How many of us have…
Song 12: Keeping Up Appearances
March 10/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 Lives there a better exemplar of hypocrisy than Eddie Haskell of the old “Leave It…
Song 11: Help! I Need Somebody
March 9/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 I have certainly had moments in my life where my heart has felt hard and small and boxed in. I have felt stuck in a place of pain or anxiety that I…
Song 10: Law-Abiders
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…