Five R's for Lent -- Remember, Reflect, Repent, Return, Rejoice

Several years ago I did a post on five R words that I kept coming across in my spiritual reading. Sometimes things that repeat become like a hymn that buries itself in your soul like a precious memory. That's the case with these R words for me. So I'm repeating the post with some changes and will be watching for these words every day when I pray the Mass.

The first is remember and we hear it from the very first day of Lent in the Ash Wednesday admonition. "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." A sobering thought upon which we do well to reflect again and again. We need to remember everything God has done for us from the beginning of creation. We also need to remember how we have sinned against him which gives us the next words -- reflect and repent.  

In Anticipation of Gaudete Sunday

"Shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart."

This is the first year I've set up the Christmas tree before December even started. I justified it by painting a dozen Jesse tree ornaments and putting on signs of creation like birds and some beehive ornaments, bright red apples, etc. Today, though, I went crazy and finished decorating the tree. As I posted earlier this month, "We need a little Christmas right this very minute!" And I just couldn't wait any longer for the glitz and glitter.

Look Up And See! And Then Give Thanks.

Writing an "I'm thankful" message on the holiday tablecloth.

Thanksgiving approaches. For many it's just a day of gluttony: food for the belly and football for the eyes -- two f words. Throw in a third -- no not that one -- fun. For many that's the meaning of life. Find all the fun you can in food, frolicking and you know what.

Time Out for Weekend Wedding Festivities

Our grandson is getting married on Saturday to a lovely young woman whom my husband and I love already. They spent the summer doing mission work in Colorado where they will return after a brief honeymoon. Both of them were active in the campus ministry at JMU in Harrisonburg, VA and they obviously are starting off their marriage with God at the center. What a joy for grandparents' hearts. Our youngest is also celebrating her birthday on Friday and my husband's brother, Dale. My brother Bobby's birthday is on Saturday so we have many prayers of gratitude going up to the Lord this weekend for so many blessings.

Please join us in praying for Alex and Katie, Jamie, Dale, and Bobby. 

We will have houseguests coming for the wedding so I won't be blogging the next few days. I hope you have as much for which to be joyful as we do this weekend. Let us rejoice with Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate.

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Five R's for Lent -- Remember, Reflect, Repent, Return, Rejoice - And Some Other R Words for Good Measure!

Prodigal son among the swine by
Albrecht Durer (1496)

During my Lenten reading the past few days, I keep meeting five R words: remember, reflect, repent, return, and rejoice. The first is remember and we hear it from the very first day of Lent in the Ash Wednesday admonition. "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." A sobering thought upon which we do well to reflect, the second R word. Holy Mother Church, on the first Sunday of Lent, also urges us to remember the devil's temptations of the Holy One of God and to reflect on them. Jesus goes out to the desert and He responds (another R word) to each temptation with a remembrance from Old Testament scripture. Remember, Satan, "It is written, man does not live by bread alone!...You shall not put the Lord your God to the test!....You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve!" Jesus looks at us from the cross and tells us to remember and reflect upon the word of God whenever we are tempted. The Word has power over evil that we can hardly imagine. And so during this time of Lent, let us remember to read  (another R word) and reflect upon holy scripture every day.