It took me awhile to understand the grace of fasting and what a valuable tool it is to help sanctify my life. Fasting gives us new skins for the new wine of the kingdom of God.
Continue reading “Why Fast?”Why Fast?
Category: Be Smitten
Topics of inspiration, celebration of God’s love in ourself and others.
Make. Every.Effort.
Winnow not in every wind, and do not start off in every direction (Sirach 5:11).
Distractions are a real thing in our world. I find the “noises” vying for my attention can be overwhelming if I’m not grounded and firm within my connection with God.
Continue reading “Make. Every.Effort.”Gods Love
The commitment to imitating Christ is the triumph of God’s love that takes hold of a man and demands of him every possible effort in the service of this love, while at the same time he stays fully aware of human weakness. — St. John Paul II
Continue reading “Gods Love”Living In Love
Reflection on the journey of life invites us to appreciate our gifts as well as our areas of struggle, so that we can grow in openness to the Lord and to his way. During their time in the wilderness, the Chosen People were changed in their relationship with God, with Moses and with each other.
Continue reading “Living In Love”Spirit of Generosity
This year I’m setting an intention for my Lenten journey for two individuals in my life that I love. I’m learning how my small sacrifices, done with intention, can be a spiritual gift for others. I’m being drawn towards the virtues of courage and generosity and a more active faith.
Continue reading “Spirit of Generosity”Where Is Your Hope?
As we start our Lenten journey, where we focus on prayer, fasting and giving to reorder our lives towards God, prayer is foundational. This action orients our idol making hearts in the proper position where I know myself and stand firm in my gifts and let God be God. Like Psalm 1, we delight and hope in the Lord and by grace, given purity of heart:
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Continue reading “Where Is Your Hope?”Are You Deteriorating or Developing?
As we read the Passion according to John, Jesus and his disciples have just finished the Last Supper. Now they walk along the streets of Jerusalem, pass through a gate in the city walls, cross a small valley, and begin ascending the slope of the Mount of Olives, where they plan to spend the night.
Their plans will be changed. In about an hour, Jesus will be arrested. In about 18 hours, he will be dead.
Some of us who are reading this page will die before the end of Lent. Most of us won’t. But one thing is certain: the day is coming when I shall die. How many hours, days, years do I have left?
There are two ways to think about this. One is to picture myself walking down a hill, gradually headed for the bottom where death awaits me. Another is to picture myself like a child in my mother’s womb, moving gradually towards birth into a new and broader life.
Deteriorating or developing?
These are two very different ways of looking at my death. More to the point, these are two very different ways of looking at my life on this earth.
From the Little Black Book Lent 2025
Finding God
During this Lenten season, we again return to the Lord with our whole heart, entering into the Divine relationship of love.
Could you use the spark of romance or adventure in your life?
Continue reading “Finding God”How is Your Prayer Life?
Our Father, who sees in secret, looks at our hearts, for it is from there that we truly live.
Continue reading “How is Your Prayer Life?”
Smitten With Goodness 