Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58:9b-14     Luke 5:27-32

This reading from Isaiah is a great reminder for all of us as we begin the Lenten journey. Isaiah gives us two relatively simple (but very important) directives and explains that if we adhere to these directives, we will benefit greatly.

First, Isaiah asks us to step back from our own self-interest and put God first in our lives. Again, this seems like a fairly simple idea but I know that it is hard to do sometimes. We become preoccupied with everything that is going on around us and we focus more on our own problems and those that may have slighted us. But, if we can get past these things and put God first, our reward will be great. As Isaiah said, we will be “like a spring whose water never fails.”

Isaiah’s second instruction is also pretty simple but something we often overlook: keeping the Sabbath day holy. We are often being pulled in multiple directions on the weekends with kids’ sports and other functions and it becomes easy to overlook or forget the importance of the Sabbath. Attending mass is very important but we should also try to get some rest and honor God’s day. If we do keep the Sabbath, we will “ride on the heights of the earth.”

Isaiah’s instructions to put God first and keep the Sabbath day holy are a great reminder as we start Lent. Take a step back and try to give God glory in our everyday lives; and when Sunday rolls around, be sure to observe the Sabbath by going to mass and respecting God’s day.

Q: What self-interest can I step back from today to better honor God? What one step can I do this weekend to better keep the Sabbath holy?  

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