March 13
God’s way is perfect and his Word is flawless. A perfect God could have nothing less than perfect communication with his people. It is we who read hastily, skip prayer, and fail to meditate on his Word, who find it confusing.
Purim
March 13
Purim is a vibrant and deeply symbolic Jewish holiday that commemorates the survival of the Jewish people from an attempted genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. More than just a historical remembrance, Purim highlights themes of divine providence, human agency, and the hidden nature of miracles. The holiday is observed through the public reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther), acts of generosity such as giving gifts of food (mishloach manot) and charity to the poor, as well as communal feasting and joyous celebration. Purim serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, faith, and the enduring triumph of justice over oppression.
Below are some ways you can participate in The Lent Journey with the Northeastern Seminary & Roberts Wesleyan Community.
Prayer
Ask and Reflect
Thomas Merton was a Cistercian monk who wrote prolifically from 1943 to 1968 about living a life deeply rooted in prayer and compassion. One of his most popular prayers is known simply as The Merton Prayer. It is an honest prayer where Merton, who so many admire as a person of deep faith, acknowledges that sometimes even he feels lost in his desire to follow God.
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Active Reflection
Meditation
Reflect deeply on today’s scriptures and prayer. Revisit the verse you committed to memory yesterday, reciting it multiple times to reinforce its meaning and integrate it more fully into your heart and mind.
