FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Nate Nocket C ‘15

Strength to be Vulnerable

“Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help,
and he will say: Here I am!” Isaiah 58: 9a

Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and charity. We often give up something for Lent; a Lenten sacrifice. Making a Lenten sacrifice always makes me think of giving up something ‘cold turkey.’ It’s hard and we will not succeed all the time. This leaves us feeling vulnerable and downtrodden. However, when we are at our most vulnerable we are open to the greatest change. Vulnerability is often seen as a negative thing. However, being faithful requires us to be vulnerable. Vulnerability reminds us that we need help; we need others. When we realize that we need others the first one we should turn to is God. Trust in the Father’s never changing love for you. Trust in Jesus Christ who has died so that you may have life. Trust in the Spirit to guide you through your vulnerability.

Cry out to the LORD and he will say: Here I am!

We pray, Lord help us to flourish in our vulnerability. Help us to become
more like you. We ask that you send your Spirit to guide our lives
and give us the strength to be vulnerable. Help us become more Christ-like
all the days of our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Is 58: 1-9a, Ps 51: 3-6a, 18-19, Mt 9: 14-15