2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Mk 5:1-20

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

"Lord, rise up and save me. But you, O LORD, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head!
When I call out to the LORD, he answers me from his holy mountain." Ps 3:4-5

This psalm speaks to me especially with Ash Wednesday only 2 days away. There is no better time than Lent to truly come to understand and know that without God we can do nothing. As the psalmist says above, the Lord is my shield and my glory. He goes on to say that the Lord answers his prayers from His holy mountain! Lent is a time in which we cleanse ourselves from distractions, from things or behaviors in our lives that we no longer need. Lent is a time in which we let go of ourselves and take up our cross and walk with Christ on His way to Calvary. The key to carrying our cross is accepting the strength God gives us through grace, love and mercy.

As Catholics we are asked to give something up or add something meaningful during the 40 days of Lent. I used to think as most young people that this was a time in which I only had to give up chocolate or ice cream. While those are great actions and worthwhile, I have come to truly find the meaning behind those acts, now that I am a little older. It is the pain or discomfort we experience when we have to say no to something or give something up that helps up connect with the vast amount of suffering Jesus went through. Just as the suffering David is enduring in the first reading is causing him to rethink his relationship with God. Whenever I think about how much pain and suffering Christ endured for us, the act of giving up meat and fasting on Fridays and taking one thing out of my life seems so easy, but always meaningful.

The readings this day tell me that now more than ever I need to trust in God. As David did not take matters into his own hands. He could have ordered his servant to lop of Shimei’s head, but David did not and trusted in the ways of the Lord and went on his way. I hope and pray that I can find the strength to trust in God’s plan for my life. God Bless.