Oh Nuts

Ash Wednesday Day of Fasting and Abstinence Found on Unsplash Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden." (Matthew 6:16-18) As Lent begins, ask Our Lord for His Guidance in your daily practice of prayer, fasting, and good works through the Lenten season.* *Taken from the 2019 Lenten Daily Devotional from the Basilica of The National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception.

"Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.  So, then, be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. " - St. Francis de Sales  Since it is the beginning of the Lenten season this quote is something for us to reflect on.

Forty days alone,  a wilderness of thoughts,  tempting and inviting thoughts,  which could so easily have distracted you  from your task, your mission, your vision. Yet you emerged, stronger and more attuned  to all that had to be done,  despite a time constraint  that to our eyes would have seemed hopeless. We too live in stressful times.  Demands are made of our time,  that leave so little  for the important things of life.  We are easily distracted  in the wilderness of our lives,  by every call to go this way or that, to turn stone to bread  leap from mountains,  and do all that would keep us from the truth. We listen to the voices of this world,  and ignore the one who endured all this  and so much more,  and emerged triumphant,  that we might not have to suffer so. Forgive us, Father,  when we get distracted from our task.  Forgive us those times when we try  to be a...

Forty days alone,  a wilderness of thoughts,  tempting and inviting thoughts,  which could so easily have distracted you  from your task, your mission, your vision. Yet you emerged, stronger and more attuned  to all that had to be done,  despite a time constraint  that to our eyes would have seemed hopeless. We too live in stressful times.  Demands are made of our time,  that leave so little  for the important things of life.  We are easily distracted  in the wilderness of our lives,  by every call to go this way or that, to turn stone to bread  leap from mountains,  and do all that would keep us from the truth. We listen to the voices of this world,  and ignore the one who endured all this  and so much more,  and emerged triumphant,  that we might not have to suffer so. Forgive us, Father,  when we get distracted from our task.  Forgive us those times when we try  to be a...