Reflections for Lent 2025

ASH WEDNESDAY 2025

Joel 2: 12 – 18

“But now, now – it is Yahweh who speaks – come back to me with all your heart,….”

~Sr. Mary Jo Selinsky, Oshkosh, WI

As I write this, there is a beautiful layer of fresh sparkly new snow on the ground. It is seven degrees Fahrenheit here in Northeastern Wisconsin. As I rolled the garbage bin out this morning (it is garbage pickup day), I had to stop and take it all in; the lovely blue sky and sunshine that often happens after a storm, the sparkling jewels of the snow and the quiet. I had to listen to the quiet; not a bird sound, an animal sound or the sound of a car. The snow seems to layer over and muffle everything. The Holy, Mysterious, Great Spirit is in the quiet, settling any anxieties and saying, “I’m here, it’s OK, life is OK. Come back to me with all your heart.” May we recognize and experience the Holy, Great and Mysterious Spirit of Yahweh in the daily dealings of our lives.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 2025

~ Sr. Diane Baumann, New London, WI

“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus…was led by the Spirit into the desert…” Luke 4:1

Have you ever been prompted and pulled by the Spirit into a “desert,” where you could spend time in discernment? Perhaps there was no sand in your “desert.” Perhaps you found yourself in a favorite retreat chapel, or in a cozy corner of your living room, or on a long walk through a forest, or on a bench beside a beautiful lake.

Sand or no sand, God has at some time probably called each of us to sit, to reflect, to decide on our core set of values, just as Jesus was moved to do so in the desert. There Jesus decided that he would feed himself not only on physical bread, but also on the nourishing Bread of God’s Word. Jesus would never use his divine power to serve himself – only to serve others.

Jesus also decided that he would choose service of God and neighbor over power and control, and that He would carry out God’s will and not seek his own: powerful decisions that went on to shape his entire life. Can you find some time today to identify a core value that you have already adopted or one that you would like to carry out for the rest of your life? Would you be willing to share that with another person, when you emerge from your desert? Let’s share the good news!