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Lent marks the beginning of the holiest event in the Christian faith, a time when we are called upon to review our spiritual lives and focus on the sacrifice of Christ Jesus’ crucifixion and the glory of His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

INTRODUCING MEDITATIVE READING AS A LENTEN PRACTICE

This year, Barbarah’s Blog offers two Lenten practices that require sacrifice and discipline as recommended by traditional faiths:  (1) Join me in a Meditative Reading Practice that focuses on this holy season and its deep meaning;   Or (2) Repeat the ritual posted last year by clicking on Easter Season With Prayers in the Categories column on the right, which begins with an explanation of Lent.

How to Begin a Meditative Reading Practice

Our aim in Meditative Reading is to discover the wisdom in the words.  To achieve this, we become calm and focused without the pressure of finishing an assignment.  To set the stage we put aside a period of time each day for reading in a place where we won’t be interrupted; take a few deep breaths to calm ourselves; and begin.  (If you don’t mind making brief notes in your books, jot down your understanding of the reading at the end of each meditation.)

Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week–From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection Is Our Book Selection 

By Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, this book is described on the jacket as, “…for Christians–Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, as well as other believers and nonbelievers. Benedict brings to his study the vast learning of a brilliant scholar, the passionate searching of a great mind, and the deep compassion of a pastor’s heart.  In the end, he dares readers to grapple with the meaning of Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection.”  The book is available at amazon.com.

Suggested Reading Schedule

Week of February 26 – Chapter 1; Week of March 4 – Chapter 2; Week of March 11 – Chapter 3; Week of March 18 – Chapter 4 ; Week of March 25 – Chapter 5; Palm Sunday, April 1 – Chapter 6;  Holy Thursday, April  5 – Chapter 7; Good Friday, April 6 – Chapter 8; Holy Saturday, April 7 – Chapter 9 thru 2B; Easter Sunday, April 8 – Chapter 9 Summary and Epilogue.

Blessings for this Lenten Season, Barbarah

P.S.  Feel stuck? Contact me through the Comments section and we’ll work through it together.