Finishing Your Lenten Journey Strong

Sherry Hayes-Peirce considers the practices she has taken on as Lenten goals and what she can learn for her success or failure in meeting those goals.

Lent is a journey, and we are already more than halfway through! For me, it began like a 5K walk/run, and I was filled with energy and focused on meeting my goals for the experience. This year my Lenten goals that were predominantly digital to help me take a deep dive into prayerful practices. I set six goals to meet over the 40 days of Lent. 

Listen to the Hallow App #Pray40Challenge.

This is a daily practice of listening to a daily reflection focused on the life of Fr. Walter Ciszek SJ, as outlined in the book He leadeth Me. This has called me to invoke a surrender prayer of “Jesus I surrender myself to you, take care of everything” as part of my daily prayer routine a couple times a week. The challenge includes guided imaginative prayer on Wednesdays. On Fridays, there is a fasting challenge—not just from food but from something that allows you to surrender to God’s plan to let go of what keeps you from what God is calling you to do. Saturdays provide reflections on how to be more charitable. On each Sunday, there is a sermon reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz. I have not missed a single day of this so far, and it even allows me to share it daily as a story on Instagram.  

Participate in the Busted Halo Insta Photo Lent Challenge.

This is like a daily Catholic scavenger hunt that adds a little faith-filled fun for my Lenten journey. Each day is a different image to find based on the prompts they share. My challenge is shared on my Instagram every day.  

Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever

This program is focused on their book, 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory, in alignment with the Church’s Eucharistic Revival. Each day they share a reflection on how we can embrace the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. They share five themes: The Eucharist and the Pilgrim, The Eucharist and the Saints, The Eucharist and You, The Eucharist and History and Lastly the Prayer of Eucharistic Consecration. I have also shared this on my social media every day so far. 

Attend Mass every weekday.

I did not meet this goal for one day so far. I work at my parish so M,W, F it is easy for me to check this off with Masses at 8:10am, 12:10pm and 5:00pm. On Tuesday and Thursday though if I don’t get to Mass by noon, the closest Mass after 5pm is 35 minutes away. If I have meetings though I can’t make it. This is what happened last week which precluded me from making it to Mass. Sharing on Mondays. 

One full hour of time each week in the Adoration Chapel.

I fell short for the first week of the Lenten Season. I am sharing this on my social media too! 

Following the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mark Schmitz.

I'm using the Hallow App to listen to these podcasts. I have not missed a day during Lent. 

It is so interesting to me that it was so easy to reach my goals regarding digital prayerful practices, but my physical goals were greater challenges for me. Admittedly, the Mass challenges on Tuesday and Thursday could be met if I would have made the sacrifice of attending 6:30 AM or 8:10 AM Mass, but this puts a spotlight on my inability to get up early for my Lord. I put on my social media “Epic Fail; Missed My Weekly One Hour of Adoration.”   

I did not give up anything for Lent, but only took on more prayerful practices. Lent is not a time for us, but a time to grow closer to Christ. So many people out of habit share how they give up chocolate, sugar, coffee or even social media for Lent and celebrate how they lose weight or focus on God vs. trending items on social media. How is that bringing you closer to Christ?   

Every evening when I get home there are notifications for me to check off the goals I have daily. I am thankful to have a digital reminder to complete my goals no matter how many tasks I have to complete my goals for Lent.  

I am committed to finish my Lenten journey strong! Even though I have fallen short of meeting my goals for this journey I know that our Lord is well pleased with my attempts to grow closer with the Him during this season.  

In these final weeks of your Lenten journey, if you've fallen short on your goals, get back in the race and finish strong! 

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Copyright 2024 Sherry Hayes-Peirce
Images: (top, center) Canva; (bottom) copyright 2024 Sherry Hayes-Peirce, all rights reserved.