"One day, crowds gather and welcome a celebrity in their midst. Another day, they watch him get tortured and killed. What is going on here? Jesus is completely unconcerned with the adulation of the crowds, in this situation and others. Like any modern story of the celebrity who is lionized one day and vilified the next, this one points to the unreliability of public opinion as the barometer of divine favour"
This was the first few lines of some wonderful words in a piece called "Triumphal Entry" which was our prayer and reflection time on this our first day of our Lenten Retreat. We spent some time in our own quiet space before coming back to the group to share our thoughts and feelings. We only share if we feel comfortable in doing so and I sense a growing love and trust in our group.
Our worksheet for the week is the above title: Fasting and Feasting.
Fast from self concern:
feast on compassion for others.
Fast from discouragement:
feast on hope.
Fast from lethargy:
feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken:
feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow:
feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip:
feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm:
feast on prayer that sustains.
William Arthur Ward
More fasting and feasting.
Fast from judging others:
feast on the Christ dwelling in them
Fast from emphasis on differences:
feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness:
feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness:
feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from discontent:
feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger:
feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism:
feast on optimism.
Fast from worry:
feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining:
feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives:
feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures:
feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility:
feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness:
feast on forgiveness.
Quite a list but a very worthwhile exercise for Lent.
Thank you Lord for reminding me of how a simple change in words can give me food for thought. For example, discontent to gratitude.
This was the first few lines of some wonderful words in a piece called "Triumphal Entry" which was our prayer and reflection time on this our first day of our Lenten Retreat. We spent some time in our own quiet space before coming back to the group to share our thoughts and feelings. We only share if we feel comfortable in doing so and I sense a growing love and trust in our group.
Our worksheet for the week is the above title: Fasting and Feasting.
Fast from self concern:
feast on compassion for others.
Fast from discouragement:
feast on hope.
Fast from lethargy:
feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken:
feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow:
feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip:
feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm:
feast on prayer that sustains.
William Arthur Ward
More fasting and feasting.
Fast from judging others:
feast on the Christ dwelling in them
Fast from emphasis on differences:
feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness:
feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness:
feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from discontent:
feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger:
feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism:
feast on optimism.
Fast from worry:
feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining:
feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives:
feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures:
feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility:
feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness:
feast on forgiveness.
Quite a list but a very worthwhile exercise for Lent.
Thank you Lord for reminding me of how a simple change in words can give me food for thought. For example, discontent to gratitude.