The good folks at Loyola Press send me a retreat every morning containing a brief excerpt from Scripture (not necessarily corresponding to the Mass readings, but always relevant), a paragraph to contemplate and then a couple of hard questions and a prayer. I am thankful for these retreats. I am quoting from to-day's here, without permission:
As we enter this prayerful season of Lent, how do we ready ourselves? We are encouraged to ritually prepare our outsides in readiness for our internal transformation. Anoint your head - bless yourself as a child of God on the journey to the Kingdom. Wash your face - ready yourself for this pilgrimage of the soul. Mark yourself with the cross of your salvation and enter into this journey with your head up and your eyes forward.
“When you fast,do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.They neglect their appearance,so that they may appear to others to be fasting.Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you fast,anoint your head and wash your face,so that you may not appear to be fasting,except to your Father who is hidden.And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
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