Sunday: Lenten Cheat Day

Completely unprompted, Leland made a Lenten commitment to make our lunches every day. The first day was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a snack bag of cherry tomatoes. The second day was a peanut butter and banana sandwich, with another snack bag of cherry tomatoes. His second-grade teacher counted the days of Lent and explained that Sunday celebrations of Eucharist put a gentle 'pause' on Lent. "That means I don't have to make my parents' lunch!" Leland proudly proclaimed. On Monday, I got an apple. On Tuesday, he "ran out of time because of so many morning chores."

It took less than a week for the novelty of Lent to wear off and to be added to the list of everyday inconveniences, which somehow are the hardest to bear. But it's too early to give up!

St. Monica serves our parishioners, our diaspora, and our broader community each day with opportunities to grow in our relationship with Christ, connect with others in fellowship and service, and come together to worship the God we love. And when we do, we always receive more than we give. Your consistent and committed support makes that possible, and so as we enter the second week of Lent, a gentle invitation to remain steadfast in your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. What we sacrifice, we are merely giving back to God.

And, if you're like Leland, just pick it up again—no one is tracking, even if you skip Sundays.