"There are two ways of knowing how good and loving God is. One is by never losing him, through the preservation of innocence — staying sinless.  The other is by finding him after one has lost him.  Repentance is not self-regarding, but God-regarding.  It is not self-loathing, but God-loving.  Christianity bids us accept ourselves as we really are, with all our faults and our failings and our sins."
— Fulton Sheen

Reflection Questions:

• How might God be inviting you to experience His kindness and love?
• Where are you trying to hide something from God?  
• What would it look like to stop hiding and trust God’s transforming love?
• Where is God inviting you to intentionally lean in spiritually during Lent?
  • Engaging UP in prayer?
  • Engaging IN through fasting?
  • Engaging OUT through giving or service?

Prayer of Repentance

Most merciful, God,
We confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of Your name.  
Amen.