Last week’s Gospel, The Transfiguration of the Lord, occurred to give encouragement to the Apostles Peter, James and John before the Passion and Death of the Lord.  Encouragement is the strengthening of the heart.  We all need encouragement as we struggle through life, and yes even through Lent.

The zeal that we had on Ash Wednesday fades quickly.  So, we may need to regroup.  I find that many of us, in our Lenten zeal, take on too much, so we are bound to fail. Lent needs to be tough, demanding and hurt; however, it needs to be realistic in expectations.  Whenever there is a moment of change, it is never easy.  

Lent is a period to make more time for prayer, and many people will carve out of a busy schedule a time in the morning or evening for just that. There are many other devotional and spiritual practices and prayers which we can do. We always find time for the things we like.  We should never say we are too busy to go to Mass or pray or read spiritual books.  We find the time to watch our favorite shows, shop, or go to the gym.   Just by getting up 15 minutes earlier can make a great difference. And this applies to our children as well.

I find it is easier if we connect prayer to what we already are doing.  When we shower, we can pray, when we have our coffee or tea before the rest of the family wakes up, we can read a paragraph from a spiritual book or say a decade of the rosary.  If we commute to work, turn off the music and pray the rosary, or listen to a religious podcast.  A parishioner who takes the train in the morning tells me that’s the best time to pray.    He also mentioned on his way home he prays which helps him to “decompress” from his job.   So, when he arrives home, he is refreshed and not overwhelmed as he goes through his front door. 

Another opportunity is as one is lying in bed waiting to fall asleep, doing a quick review of the day, also known as an examen of conscience.  How did you do today?  High school students and college students can pray while walking to class, pray before each class, while waiting on the lunch line.   It is more important to be consistent than how long or how you pray.   Remember a half-hearted or distracted prayer is still a prayer!

Another aspect of Lent is sometimes to think small and be specific.  “I’ll read one page of a book.” “I’ll pray one psalm.”  “I’ll thank God for a blessing before I look at my phone.”  

Pray small prayers like, Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph, Jesus I trust in You, Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me, My Lord and my God, Come Holy Spirit, etc. Small sincere prayers reform our hearts and souls.

How do we view interruptions?  They can be chances to offer up the frustrations to the Lord, to free a soul from purgatory, or help a soul.  Even in prayer, one can be interrupted, see the interruption as an invitation, the needs of your family or a friend may be prayer.

And the greatest prayer of all: attend another Mass during the week.  I know people who attend Mass during their lunch hour, only 20-25 minutes for a daily Mass, then the rest of the time for themselves, or before they go to work.

We still have a lot of time left in Lent.   If we fell apart or didn’t even start, now is the time.  Just remember our Lord wants faithfulness and consistency.  A quick whispered prayer while doing the laundry, or using an app on the phone for prayers, even a distracted rosary is what our Lord desires.    He wants us to love Him, to think of Him, to talk to Him.  He wants our prayers. 

He wants to be with His children.