Day 40: Cardio

Today will conclude 40 days. The journey has come to an end today, and I have to take this day to step back and look at the bigger picture of the journey travelled so far.

I feel more aware, and if anything more “spiritually” fit. Through this entire process of trying to blog everyday, I’ve forced my soul into action, pushing my heart and mind into an everyday workout. What has helped motivate and keep this up, has been the work out partners. These bloggers kept nourishing and encouraging my actions simply by putting in that same effort. A big thank you to all those who really kept up with the challenge:

• Cecilia’s Jazz
• The Good Apple
• Clay Girl
• Karmen Chan

 

And another big thank you to those who contributed:

• He Said, She Said, ISAY
• The Evolution of Love
• Brian Pribadi
• Life Hermeneutics
• this be my truth
• Adriantothemax
  

 

The big lesson/message of Lent for me? STAY FIT SPIRITUALLY. So ends this Lenten Journey. Thank you Jesus. Life begins again, but better.

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 39: Process

“…suffering is glory in the making.”

 

Alongside all the emotions I usually go through during Good Friday, this small part of a sentence during the homily stuck out to me for some reason. I’m reminded that everything is a process.

In the case of Easter, three days exactly.

 

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 38: Human

Quite the busy day Jesus had before He died.

He washed the feet of his followers, giving them an example of how to continue the work He began and how we should all serve one another. And lastly, He gave us the Eucharist. His physical way of being one with us throughout time. A symbol of sorts to show His lasting fidelity to His flock.

As much as this was Godly stuff, it was very human. If I knew I had one day left to live, I would profess and express my love to those closest to me. I would tell my wife to be strong, and my kids to take care of each other, and to remember that I will always love them.

Jesus’ two final acts with his apostles express the same sentiment, of caring for each other, and being reminded how much He loved, and will continue to love them. Jesus was a down-to-earth, true blue human being. But Him being God as well, these two simple acts are so profoundly foundational in my Catholic faith. Talk about leaving a legacy.

Well played Jesus. Well played.

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 37: Dig

Not much words at this point of the Lenten Challenge. I think I’m coming to the point of slowing down on the output process, to just focus on the moments that are the cornerstone of my faith. I think it’s time to dig deeper inside.

 

 
For all those reading from an imported note on FaceBook, here’s the video link.

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection

Day 36: Push

Now that this Lenten Journey is coming to a close, and the Easter Triduum is only a few days away, it’s been hard not to think about anything else then Jesus’ anguish during this whole ordeal of Easter.

From sweating blood while praying, your homies falling asleep when you need them the most, being betrayed by a colleague, denied three times by his closest friend, beaten and wrongfully arrested and then held overnight in a prison. I mean, this is only the day before He actually carries the cross and gets nailed to it to die.

When things go bad, it seems to compound almost instantaneously. One bad thing after another, and it usually gets a whole lot worse before it gets any better.

With all of this, I really have to give it up for Jesus’ toughness physically, mentally and spiritually. Where most would shut down in some fashion, Mr. Christ is clutch, and pushes through all the way to take one for the team. And when I say team, I mean humanity.

Jesus the Christ. MVP. No question.

Tags | catholic, Lent 2011, reflection