LJ – Day 30 – Purpose

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

Day 30: Purpose
Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do. – Jesus (Mark 1)

 
As we enter into the final 10 days of Lent, our focus begins to turn toward action, which must be guided with purpose. Your purpose in life is defined by your calling. We are each called to do something special in life. The Lenten Journey gives us an opportunity to sift through some of the clouds of confusion and focus on our purpose, as a child, perhaps a parent or spouse, as a worker – employer or employee – …. as a human being, that is, our purpose as a person. And, like Jesus, proclaim it.
Graphic FreeIMG.net

 

 

 

LJ2021 – Day 29 – Tears

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

Day 29: Tears
Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. – Jesus (Luke 7)

 
Tears are the outward expression of our inner emotions. Often, they come forth in times of sadness and therefore, may be unnoticed at times of joy. The intensity of emotions that push forth tears draws attention to the fine line between sadness and joy. The pandemic has put distance and time between loved one, and tears often point to that space, both, with the sadness of the reality and the joy of being near again.
Graphic: PDPics.com Public Domain

LJ2021 – Day 28 – Prayer

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

Day 28: Prayer
I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. – Jesus (Luke 18)

 
In the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18) Jesus shares a story that points to the need for prayer in our life and not to lose heart. Following the story, the point and intention of prayer is justice. What are the injustices you’ve felt in your life? Can you point to the justice that has been achieved, “quickly,” following your prayers? With less than two weeks left for the Lenten Journey, has your understanding of justice changed since the first days of this journey?

Graphic: Child’s First Prayer, Public Domain

 
 

LJ2021 – Day 27 – Children

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

 

Day 27: Children
Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs. – Jesus (Matthew 19)

What are the attributes of children that make them the prime candidates for inheritors of the kingdom of heaven? Innocence, simplicity, obedience, acceptance, eagerness to learn, are among some of the attributes of children that we seek during the Lenten Journey. The 40 Martyrs’ of Sebaste were regarded as children (manoog).

Graphic: Icon of Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

LJ2021 – Day 26 – Productivity

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

 

Day 26: Productivity
A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.  So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ – Jesus (Luke 13)

Life has purpose and meaning. The gifts and talents that are given to us by God are meant to be nurtured, developed and ultimately used. During the Lenten Journey, we discover and connect with those talents only to learn that they are gifts to be used.

LJ2021 – Day 25 – Good News

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

Day 25: Good News
The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. – Jesus (Luke 16)

Force is power. It is measured by strength. To enter somewhere by force implies that what is inside is of great value. What is new, that is news, is that the law and the profits were in effect until John. The kingdom of God can be entered. And the Good News is that the entrance to the kingdom is accessible by all.
Graphic: Dreamstime.com

LJ2021 – Day 24 – Shrewdness

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

Day 24: Shrewdness
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. – Jesus (Luke 16)

 
Shrewdness is viewed as a necessary virtue to engage in the dealings of this world. It is not necessarily thought of as a spiritual virtue. Jesus points to it with not apology. During our Lenten Journey, we discover the that we bring our entire self – worldly and spiritual – to the stewardship of Creation.
Graphic: Dreamstime.com

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