In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Follow me.”

So, what does it mean to leave everything behind and follow him? What happens when we leave our profound fears, judgments of others, and any corrupted desires behind us and just follow him? We might find that to accept the invitation to follow Jesus and be part of the body of Christ is to decide to free those who are oppressed in any way, to feed those who are hungry--for food or spiritual nourishment, to be a relationship bridge-builder, to be a restorer of peace, to be free of all that hinders our relationship with God, self, and others. To accept the invitation is to consider extending our tables and offer companionship to those who feel marginalized, neglected, or deemed unworthy by societal standards. We might also find that the opinions of others and the nature of our sins never prevents God from calling us by name to follow and be Christ-like to and for others.

In a world where we are inundated with news of division, political strife, social injustice, economic disparity, selfishness, fear, and many people suffering in silence, it is comforting that the scripture readings provide us with much-needed balm for our collective wounds. The scripture readings also reveal the necessity for us to have a holistic faith—one that recognizes the struggles of others and actively seeks to alleviate such struggles. The readings compel us to step forward, act out of compassion, and open our hearts wider than we ever thought possible.

This season of Lent offers a transformative opportunity to realign our values and actions with love, echoing the teachings of Jesus. The message is clear: true religious observance is intrinsically linked to acts of kindness and justice. The type of kindness and justice that goes beyond just fasting, almsgiving, and abstinence for lent. Maybe this lent, we could stretch a little further. Maybe we could include an invitation, a farewell, and a dare, as we create our spiritual to-do list. Maybe we could intentionally, from a place of love and compassion, invite someone into our circle of friendship. Maybe we could find the courage to properly say farewell to the things and situations in our lives that no longer help us grow. Maybe we could dare say, "I forgive you," to someone who needs to hear that or say, "Forgive me,” to someone bruised by our words or actions. Maybe we could dare to be Christ-like; people who are gatherers, restorers, relationship builders, truth-tellers, and spacious.

Merciful God, help me find a quiet reflective space today to awaken my heart and transform my life into a reflection of hope, love, and faith-in-action. Amen