Introduction
Lent is a penitential season. It is a good time to grow in love and holiness with our spouse. But it is not always easy for busy couples to find time to do Lenten practices together.
We offer this series to help you and your spouse stay connected during the holy season of Lent. All the Scripture readings are from the Catholic Lectionary for Lent. The daily readings in Lent do not change from year to year. However, since the feast of St. Joseph and the feast of the Annunciation fall on the same dates each year (March 19th and March 25th respectively), they can show up at different places in the Lenten calendar. We will use the readings for those feast days when it is appropriate. Note: since March 25th falls during Holy Week, the Solemnity of the Annunciation will be celebrated on April 8th.
The Sunday readings follow a three-year cycle. We have listed all the readings for the current year (in 2024, we are in Year B). The gospel readings for the first two weeks of Lent recount the stories of the temptations in the desert and the Transfiguration of the Lord. The readings are from all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
This year we offer meditations on the first reading from the weekday Mass for the first four weeks of Lent, with a few exceptions. We will shift back to meditating on the gospel for week five and Holy Week.
A note about the inclusion of deuterocanonical readings: additions to the book of Daniel, including an excerpt from the song of Azariah in the fiery furnace, and the story of Susanna, and a selection from the Book of Wisdom, are considered inspired by the Catholics and worth reading by most Protestant denominations.
We invite you to take a short time—about 20 minutes a day—to do something for your marriage. On Easter morning, you will find greater unity, an increased appreciation for learning more about each other, and a gratitude for the small ways you’ve chosen to show your love and affection.
Set yourself up for success! Pick a time of day you can be consistent with. Turn off your phones and other distractions. Light a candle. Sit close together and take turns reading the parts out loud. We have selected one of the daily readings for you to read each day. It is followed by a meditation; a time for quiet reflection and discussion; a blessing; and a prayer for unity.
YOU MIGHT BE THINKING . . .
“Pray together every day? Really?!”
If you miss a day or two, don’t worry! Start small—say, twice a week. Remember, each effort you make to pray and talk more with your spouse is a victory. Your marriage will grow stronger, and you will be happier as a couple. You will begin to see God’s grace and the Holy Spirit at work in your relationship. Your example will bring hope to the world.
“We barely see each other; we are running around crazy most days. How do we make time for this?”
Doing something is better than doing nothing at all. Maybe you just say the Lord’s prayer together and offer up what’s on your heart that day. Or you can get creative. Take a break while you’re at work, set up a time to videochat, and read through the Scripture and meditation together. Or you can set the morning alarm an extra 10 minutes earlier and squeeze in prayer together.
“How will we know our efforts are working?”
At the end of a day or a week, think back to what happened. Was there a moment when you made the choice to withhold a negative comment? Did you choose to compliment your spouse, rather than tear him/her down? Did you smile when you thought about your spouse today? Have you seen an increase in your affection? Are you holding hands more? Are you laughing more? Are you willing to give each other the benefit of the doubt? Do you find yourself wanting to text each other more? These are all signs of the Holy Spirit at work in your marriage!
“How will we keep this up for all of Lent? How can we make it to Easter?”
Ask a friend to be there for you. Tell them what you intend to do. Give them permission to ask you how it’s going. Ask them to pray for you. Set reminders on your phone every day leading right up to Holy Week—something like “Have you connected with your spouse today?” Reward yourself! With your spouse, think about a fun thing you can look forward to at the end of each week if you pray 2–3 times together. A date night, a small gift, a massage, breakfast in bed . . . you get the idea.
Trust in the Lord and begin!
Bill Wacker
Director Emeritus
