Lent Is A Time To Shine

The light of God showing through Jesus bedazzles his disciples in Sunday’s gospel of the Transfiguration, giving us a glimpse of Easter early in Lent. The Transfiguration calls us to our Lenten transformation into Christ, to shine with love of every neighbor.

Spring also calls us to the new life of Easter. Sunlight blesses us daily with vitamin D as it warms Earth. Trees and plants awaken for their invisible daily miracle of transforming sunlight into the air we breathe.

Let us praise God for all the warmth others spread in our lives — the lady who let us ahead in the supermarket line, the man who holds the door open, the baby who giggles at us over his mother’s shoulder. Like air and light these nearly invisible small acts shine and warm our community. We have lie as a gift from God to share in love.

If you have downloaded our Lenten cross, the following are suggestions for coloring it in. It’s not too late to start this activity with your family.

PLANT

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 1 on your Lenten cross green.

• Plant a tree.
• Plant grasses and flowers on your boulevard or in your yard. A patch of prairie provides seeds for birds.

SIMPLIFY

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 2 on your Lenten cross yellow.

• Try a vegetarian food or recipe this week.
• Clean unneeded clothes and shoes out of your closet. Donate what is good.

PRAY

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 3 on your Lenten cross purple.

• Take time for silence. Breathe in, saying, “Spirit of God with me.” Breathe out, saying, “Spirit of Love in me.”
• Begin a family meal by having each person state a hope for the whole human family.

READ

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 4 on your Lenten cross blue.

• Visit the Half the Sky movement to read about their initiatives to end human trafficking.
• Read Matthew 25.31-46 to find out where we can find Jesus any day.

FAMILY and FRIENDS

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 5 on your Lenten cross red.

• Give up a grudge, an imagined enemy, or an old hurt. Pursue happiness.
• Call or email your oldest friend to say thanks for years of love and loyalty.

PARTICIPATE

When you do one of these activities, color a space marked 6 on your Lenten cross orange.

• Volunteer to tutor kids or help people with groceries.
• Imagine celebrating your next birthday by asking your friends to join you in a project that serves others, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen. Start planning.