LJ2021 – Day 23 – World

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Day 23: World

For the children of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the children of light. -Jesus (Luke 16)
 
The positioning of light opposite the world, in this statement, should not go without notice or construed as incidental. It is not darkness that Jesus refers to in contrast to the children of light, rather it is the world – our world – which is real and a reality with which we have to contend. We are called to be stewards, to manage, the resources and the goods of this world. In so doing, we are called to use the language, the skills and the means of this world. During the Lenten Journey, we are called to list our assets and liabilities as they pertain to our talents. Understanding that our talents and resources exist in the spiritual and the physical world is today’s step in the journey.
Graphic: Pixabay.com

LJ2021 – Day 22 – Woman

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

 

Day 22: Women

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into… flour until it worked all through the dough. – Jesus (Matthew 13)

 
The Kingdom of Heaven grows powerfully from small and humble beginnings. While a tiny mustard seed extends wildly into a bush in nature, flour needs the addition of yeast to rise to dough. Without the measure, timing, organization, coordination and care – reflections of love for the result – it remains but a hardened paste.
Graphic: Needpix.com

LJ2021 – Day 21 – Stewardship

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

 

Day 21: Stewardship
Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer. – Jesus (Luke 16)

It’s the question that sooner or later will be asked of all of us, when we can no longer be a manager, of this life. “Give an accounting.” What would be our answer?

Graphic: StockFreeImages

LJ2021 – Day 20 – Your Pearl

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

 

Day 20: Your Pearl

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. – Jesus (Matthew 13:45-6)
 
Mid-Lenten exercise: Have you found a pearl, something so valuable, that you are willing to give up everything to claim it? If not, do you think such a pearl exists? Is it attainable? Is it claimable?

LJ2021 – Day 19 – Serving

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Day 19: Serving
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. – Jesus (Luke 16)

 
What do we serve? That’s a loaded word, for sure. Jesus is presenting an axiom here, without making a judgement. The assumption is that it is better to serve God, rather than money. Jesus merely points out the reality that loyalties to one master will outweigh loyalties to another. The Lenten Journey is a time to ask, who or what we serve?

 

Overshadowed

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Next Step #665: Overshadowed by the Prodigal Son, here’s what to look for as the clouds clear. Reclaim prep: Youth as alternatives to future revelations of the self. “Acts of God” and acts of humans: choice and no choice in the decision process.
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LJ2021 – Day 18 – Always

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

 

Day 18: Always
And he [the father] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.’ – Jesus (Luke 15:31)

Part of the process of introspection that we preform during the Lent Season is to inventory our assets against our liabilities. Liabilities sometimes overwhelm us to the point that we fail to properly access the assets that we have. Knowing that we are always in God’s care and live in God’s grace is a discovery we may make, and once made, it must be assigned to the top position on the asset column of our Lenten inventory.

 
Graphic: “Always on” HBR 

LJ2021 – Day 17 – Completeness

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Day 17: Completeness
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’ – Jesus (Luke 15)

 
Returning back to health – whether following an attack by a virus, or after a broken relationship – is a difficult proposition. Along the way, health – both physical and emotional – could be compromised making full recovery next to impossible. The recovery granted to us by God is complete and full. During the Lenten season, we discover our weaknesses and count our strengths. The delicate balance between the two is defined by our perception, attitude and communication with God.

LJ2021 – Day 16 – Duality

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Day 16: Duality
[The younger son said,] I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you…’ – Jesus (Luke 15)

 
Humans: We are body and spirit. Our actions have consequences in the natural world and in the spiritual world. To say we have sinned, means that we have hurt someone, even if that someone is one’s self. Therein, we understand the sin against heaven and earth. Likewise, to say we have done good, such as an act of charity, will have consequences in the natural world and in the spiritual world. Those acts of goodness will have weight on Earth as well as in heaven.

 

LJ2021 – Day 15 – Trigger

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Lenten Journey 2021:
Faith in a Post Pandemic World
by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

 

Day 15: Trigger
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” – Jesus (Luke 15:17-19)

Life may be compared to a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs. Some ups are high enough to bring us down quickly. From the depths of our low spots the climb up might be slow, but steady. On the track there are switches that trigger the coaster car to journey up, or to naturally fall. There are, also, points of no-return, most notably when we first sit in the coaster-car and the attendant releases the break for our journey through the twists and turns. Of course, the purpose of Lent is to regain control over life, so we can be more than a car gliding on a track. What triggers us to say “enough” of the down-spots? What triggers us to turn back to safety? to home? to God?