Daily Gospel Reflection for February 18, 2024: First Sunday of Lent

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

This time of year, articles and social media posts abound with ideas for having a fruitful Lent. For a busy mom, all the apps, challenges, and activities can feel intimidating and overwhelming. Do I really have to do all these things to observe Lent to the fullest? If I don’t do these things, am I less of a Catholic?

Thankfully, today’s Gospel is simple and direct. Jesus tells us what we are called to do to enter into this season:

“Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

By proclaiming this reading at Mass today, on the first Sunday of this new liturgical season, the Church brings us back to the true reason for Lent, to use these forty days to grow closer to our Lord in His suffering.

You may not be at a point in your life where you can commit to listening to a daily podcast, fasting daily during daylight hours or making it to daily Mass, but not being able to take on a major Lenten project doesn’t mean you can’t participate, or that your participation doesn’t count. Small moments of prayer throughout the day, little sacrifices chosen in the moment, turning toward Jesus as you go about the duties of your family routine - these are all beautiful ways to enter into this season, and to allow Jesus to transform your life.

This Lent, when you are tempted to judge yourself harshly for all that you are not doing, remember the simple message of today’s Gospel reading and refocus your energy on doing what our Lord asks, in any small way that you can. An act of repentance doesn’t have to be grand to be beautiful.

Ponder:

In what small ways can I repent and devote myself more fully to the Gospel this Lent?

Pray:

Lord, be with me when I am tempted to compare my Lenten practices to others’. Help me to remember the true reason for this season and to refocus my heart on You.

Click to tweet:
Do I really have to do all these things to observe Lent to the fullest? If I don’t do these things, am I less of a Catholic? #DailyGospel

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