Second Sunday of Lent, 3/13

Dear Friends,

What struck me in today's Gospel was the phrase, "becoming fully awake" - Peter, James and John were overcome by sleep and only when they became "fully awake" did they see God's glory. This Lenten season seems to be the perfect time for us, as faithful Christians, to awake from our slumber - to break our bad habits and indulgences - and to focus our full attention on God. I don't know about you but this Ash Wednesday definitely shook me out of my complacency and challenged me to make small sacrifices that get me out of my comfort zone. Without indulging my every whim and desire, I am starting to feel stronger and more free to make good decisions and really grow in my spiritual life.

In the Byzantine tradition, there are several times throughout the Divine Liturgy that the priest or deacon will say, "Wisdom! Be attentive!" and I think that is a very wise and necessary appeal to our humanity. We need several reminders to stay alert! In our humanity, it is so easy to slip back into what is comfortable or what is easy but God is always calling us to go deeper and be challenged. In what ways is God asking you to be alert or to be "fully awake"? What might be some roadblocks that are either distracting you or feeding a sense of complacency? If you were to truly, in all sincerity and sobriety, search the face of God, what would you see?

This week, I invite you to pray for the ability to be attentive to God and embrace the sacrifices that keep us alert and awake.

God bless,

Amy