40 DAYS IN THE WORD: 3 Ways to Add Scripture to Your Lenten “Diet”

How about doing something for Lent this year, instead of simply giving up sweets?

In this year’s Lenten message, Pope Francis has an interesting comment on the parable of the rich man who ignored Lazarus, the poor beggar who lay dying at his gate (Luke 16:19-31). He says that the root of the rich man’s problem was not his wealth but his failure to pay attention to God’s word. The man was so caught up in his own pursuits, he didn’t listen to the word that he heard. And that set off a chain reaction. His love of God grew cold. He stopped noticing his needy neighbor and eventually grew to despise him.

I wonder how often that happens to us. We’re good people, we go to church, we take care of our families, we volunteer — but all those good things start to overcome our inner lives. We carve out precious time to relax: to play golf, or exercise, or see a movie. But there’s no time to sit with the Scriptures, to really listen to God speak into our hearts and transform us. How long before our own love will grow cold?

“The Word is a gift,” Pope Francis reminds us. “The word of God is alive and powerful, capable of converting hearts and leading them back to God.”

How can we open our heart to this gift, especially at Lent, which calls us in a special way to a fresh start?

One way is to set aside 10-30 minutes a day for the 40 days of Lent to read and meditate on Scripture. You probably already have a 10-minute habit you rarely miss. Maybe you read the paper before you go to work. Or you scroll through your Twitter feed or Instagram account during lunch, or you channel-surf before turning in for the night. What daily habit can you give up for Lent instead of coffee or sweets, and replace it with time in the word of God?

In my experience, one of the biggest obstacles to starting to read the Bible is the lack of a plan. With that in mind, here are three simple suggestions to get you started. Perhaps one will inspire you to spend 40 days in the Word.

1. Focus on the readings you hear at Mass

Read along with the Church and meditate on the Ash Wednesday and Sunday readings throughout the following week. Download 40 Days in the Bible, my free Monday-Friday reading plan for the Lent and Easter Seasons 2017.

2. Read through one of the Gospels

Take a slow journey through the Gospel of Mark. Here is a daily Lenten reading plan that takes you through Jesus’s life and ministry and into his passion, death, and resurrection just as we are celebrating those things as a Church. To journal as you go, record the date and passage read along with your observations, questions, what it means to your life and how you respond to God. Download the Reading Checklist here.

3. Meditate on the Penitential Psalms

Follow the tried-and-true practice of reading the seven Penitential Psalms. My Lenten journal, Create in Me a Clean Heart: Ten Minutes a Day in the Penitential Psalms will guide you through a daily prayerful meditation on one of these psalms a week from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Available from Amazon.

Read more here—Looking forward to Lent: Praying with the Penitential Psalms

 

Whatever you choose to do, I’d love to hear how it goes!

Blessings on you as you read His word.

 

©2017 Sarah Christmyer

Find more ideas for making the most of Lent from writers in the Catholic Women Blogger’s Network — check out this month’s CWBN Blog Hop.