We could consider some lines from the readings that begin our Lenten journey today as a spiritual conversation. In the first reading, we are invited: “Return to me with your whole heart.” The refrain from the responsorial psalm is perhaps our reply: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” If we are looking for a theme or goal for this Lent, these lines say it all, and together they are a rich guide as we step on the path of Lent.
The lines are already familiar to us, and they deserve a close look. I find the key words of ‘return’ and ‘whole’ to be especially significant. We are loved and wanted so much that we can ‘return’ as many times as we need. It’s an ongoing invitation. Our humanity and sinfulness turn us away from the Lord, but He awaits us to find Him again and again. And when we do return to Him, we should do our best to do so with our whole heart. Not partially, not just when it’s convenient, not just when it’s comfortable. The acknowledgment of our sin is in this responsorial psalm. I remember a priest telling me several years ago that in lieu of the Act of Contrition, he also encourages the simple well-known “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Though a simple prayer, it is full of heart.
We know that Lent offers us a unique journey of healing, awareness, and redemption. This is a special time of genuine personal reflection. A time to identify the obstacles that keep us from fully returning with our whole heart. A time to prayerfully seek the grace and mercy of our God who is rich in kindness and the joy of our salvation.
Journeying to Grace 