Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Today’s readings involve the difficulties encountered by the special son. In the first reading, it is Joseph, the son of Jacob. In the Gospel parable, it is the landowner’s son symbolizing Jesus. Neither of today’s passages end on a positive note. Joseph is sold into slavery. Jesus is forecasting what the religious leadership will do to him. I would prefer not to wait until Easter for a change in tone.

This is a Friday in Lent. I find myself asking, what am I doing for Lent? Asking me to give up meat does not really push me forward. In fact, I am happy to have the excuse to indulge in a Fish Fry. This was weekly part of my youth that I enjoyed but which tended to disappear when it was reduced to a mostly seasonal offering. Rather than what I am giving up, this season I trying to concentrate on moving in new directions that will leave me better when Easter arrives. In today’s reading we see Joseph’s brothers and the religious leaders in the Gospel feeling confident in their misguided judgements. I know how often I judge and wonder how much it is due to my sources of information and to those who are around me. My Lenten task is to judge less and to seek to understand more. Lent is already more than 20% done. How have I progressed in moving closer to God and to humanity? This is the focus of my prayer today.