Ash Wednesday

The time to respond is now. It is a very acceptable time. Call an assembly and gather the people.

Our Parish is the largest in our diocese and the 7 p.m. Mass was packed. I am guessing about 900 people were there to celebrate Holy Mass and to receive ashes. Of course Monsignor talked about prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I reflected on the first day of lent and my planned activities.
I typed up a little Resentment Prayer to say each day for my least favorite people. and I said it for them.I did not feel self-righteous or holier than thou or even all that good about it. Rather I felt guilty that I even had three people on a list like this!I guess that is why we are asked to pray in secret. God knows my feelings for these people. I believe He put praying for them in my heart, too. I shall secretly ask them at the end of April if any of their dreams came true. (and no, I am not talking nightmares)
Remember, I decided to give up fiction for Lent. This morning my husband handed me a library book he had picked up  for me.. When I reserved Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter I was number 36 on the wait list. I am taking it back unopened tomorrow. It will be something for me to look forward to  in May.
A meeting member gave me her copy of Fr. Calloway's autobiography, No Turning Back. I read two chapters without even thinking about time. I also have Unbroken waiting for me, as well as Rick Steves Travel as a Political Act ,and two books came in today's mail...Journey in a holy Land by Pennington and Making a Heart for God, a Week inside a Catholic Monastery by Dianne Aprile. Perhaps giving up fiction will not be such a sacrifice...I did not have any soda today. I wasn't tempted.
I put the 40 Days for Life yard sign up. I hope others are participating; if not, I guess I am a reminder.
Because it is Wednesday I had also planned to refrain from shopping. I stopped at Walgreen's and printed a couple of photos and bought Vegetable soup for lunch and didn't even think about my 'fasting ' plan for the day. I asked Our Lady's pardon, but still, I didn't even think twice. Thou shalt think twice before acting must be the eleventh commandment, the one that got broken on the way down the mountain. It is not yet engraved upon my heart.
I did just walk up from the basement. I put in 15 minutes packing up boxes of things I purchased as gifts for others. I found the felt on the pool table under them and put the boxes up in my clothes closet out of the way of prying eyes. My hairdresser told me about the Christmas shoebox collection starting up again. There are many things in those gift boxes that I can bring to her.
Day 1 of Lent: 4 for 5. The time to respond is now. It is a very acceptable time.
Blessings to you in your Lenten journey.
Nancy