Blessed 2nd Sunday of Lent! I hope all of you are doing well on your Lenten journeys. We’ve had one full week and half a week down now! I wanted to share some further reflections with you as we continue down this path of preparation for the glory of Easter.

It’s important to remember this fact: we are called to follow Jesus; to take up our crosses and follow him.

This does not mean it is easy. And so let us keep this in mind as we continue our Lenten journey and strive to build each other up as brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. To do as God commanded Peter, James and John that night on the mountaintop, in Mark 9:7: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”, as well as to help others do the same.

But sometimes we wonder, “but what about this?” or “maybe once I get some stuff figured out.” God will work with us on our own time, sure, but God can’t drive a parked car. If we are to make any progress in the spiritual life, we must be willing to make sacrifices; to set aside the time to listen to God’s will and to follow him. To do as He says. It’s not easy, and we certainly aren’t perfect, nor will we all start from the same place or “drive” at the same speed, but we must at least be persistent in our pursuit of the Lord. We must not give up, no matter what. If you know someone who may be struggling with their journey, see what you can do to help them out. Even encouragement in the form of a simple message can mean a lot to someone who’s really feeling the strain.

God be with you all this Lent.