Pushing Out – Day 32 of 40

Pushing Out – Day 32 of Lent

This week – the week of the Unjust Judge – we are challenged to look at our prayer life in a new manner, that is, not only as a conversation with God but a conversation with the self. We turn inward to find the strength to push outward – to push that love and compassion out. We find the strength to do this because we trust in love. And now, we begin to understand what the Apostle meant when he said, “God is love.” We trust God because we trust love and vice versa.

During these final days of Lent our direction is outward. The forty days of fasting, praying and charity will push out of the Lenten form to be a part of our everyday life.

On this 32nd day of Lent we are noticing the change in our journey. What started as the road to faith is now turning into the path of action. You have it within you to act, to trust your actions because they are built on faith, they are built on love, that is, they are built on the trust that you have in God.

Today we have a simple act of charity: to love. It is the first step on the path to action. It is a true love, which may hurt, but we trust it. We are completely submitting ourselves to that love. Submitting to God is submitting to love. Push yourself today to freely explore submission to God. Substitute the love where you think of God. Substitute God where you think of love. Push yourself to love others – family, friends, or someone you do not know. Push yourself to engage in a random act of love. Then take the chance and really push yourself to love your enemy. It is there, in your action, that you see God manifested. There you see God born and revealed. There you see the chaos brought to order and fear dispelled. It is at that point that you truly understand, “Thy will be done.” It is His will that we love one another.

Today’s specialty is simply Olivada! You’ll find the recipe at the link below.

Let us pray:
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give me a sense of your presence, your strength and your love. Help me to trust your protecting love and your strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten me. For living close to you, we will see your plan, your purpose and your will in all things. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 32: Olivada