Lent is acceptance

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. John of God, Religious, 08 March 2024
Hosea 14:2-10     ><]]]]]'> + ><]]]]]'> + ><]]]]]'>     Mark 12:28-34

Your words today,
dear Father, 
led me back to the 
Monday reflection of another
blogger about the word
"acceptance":

“Acceptance” can be seen as a passive word suggesting that we just put up with something we cannot change.

On the other hand, it can be a positive condition in our spirituality by which we prepare ourselves to hospitably receive that which we had not expected. Such positive acceptance suggests a non-judgmental, wise, and discerning heart. 

Sr. Renee Yann, RSM, https://lavishmercy.com/2024/03/03/accepted/

Why are we so fond,
O God, of doing anything
except precisely what you want
us to do?
Why can't we just accept
your words,
your plans,
or your instructions
we always disregard, 
"hoping" there could be 
something better?

Forgive us, Father,
when even in the 
quagmire of sin and evil,
we keep resisting you,
refusing to accept
your suggestions;
let us learn 
beginning this Lent
when to just stop
and simply accept
you and your words.

Thus says the Lord: Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the Lord; say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.”

Hosea 14:2-3

Draw us closer to you,
Lord Jesus Christ and your
kingdom by accepting
the basic truth of our faith
that the love of God is
always the love of others;
help us realize
life is more than searching
for what is the best
possible condition
or situation we can have
but to accept our whereabouts
where we can give our best selves
to you through others
to make this world a
better one.
'
Everything, O Lord,
begins in finding you
within each of us
so we may find you in others
especially the sick and
the weakest like St. John of God
who simply accepted
everything that came to his life
as coming from you;
it is in our acceptance
of you, O Lord,
that we begin to lovingly serve
you in others because that is
also when we are able to relate
our lives
with your Church,
with the world,
with our callings;
it is in accepting these
that we become
"not far
from the Kingdom
 of God."
Amen.