Rend Your Heart and Not Your Garments

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by Lent? There are so many different devotions, fasts, and studies to participate in. How do you figure out what God is calling you to this Lent? Dr. Edward Sri answers this question and offers five practical ways to transform your life this Lent.

Snippet from the Show
If we truly know ourselves, we know that we cannot rely only on ourselves. We must rely on God. His grace makes all things possible.

Joel 2:12-13

Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment.

2 Corinthians 3:18

All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Do Not Limit Your Lent

1. Avoid getting caught up in tasks. Lent is not simply about accomplishing a to-do list of fasts and devotions. Yes, these are good and ought to be done, but they need to be done for a greater purpose: your transformation.
2. The goal of Lent cannot be about your experience. Do not judge your Lent based on whether or not you enjoyed it or “got a lot out of it.” Instead, focus on becoming someone different for Jesus.

Five Practical Ways to Rend Our Hearts and Not Just Our Garments

1. Pray about it. Ask Jesus what character flaw you need to work on.
2. State your intention. Make a firm resolution. Perhaps, you could write it out somewhere.
3. Each morning, beg God to help you.
4. When a situation arises, resolve to be faithful to your decision. Stay committed!
5. When you fail, remember God’s mercy. When you fall, get up and try again.
6. Do not depend on your will. Be determined, but remember that the key is relying on God’s grace.
   
   

Upcoming Events with Dr. Sri

• Feb 9-10: St. Vincent de Paul Parish Renewal Weekend – Austin TX
• Feb 15: St. Rita Parish Mission – Wellington FL
• Feb 16-17: Archdiocese of St. Louis Men’s Conference – St. Louis MO
• Feb 21: St. Anna’s Catholic Church – Parish Lenten Mission – Monroe GA
• Feb 22: Holy Trinity Catholic Church – Parish Lenten Mission – Peachtree City GA
• Mar 1-2: Annual Diocesan Conference – Laredo TX
• Mar 8-9: Catholic Men’s Conference of Maryland – Baltimore MD
• Mar 13-14: St. Michael Catholic Church Parish Mission – St. Michael MN
• Mar 15: Bishop Lucker Lecture for Diocese of New Ulm – Redwood Falls MN
• Mar 20-21: St. Louis Catholic Church Parish Mission – Miami FL
• Apr 5-6: Diocese of Charleston Eucharistic Congress – Columbia SC
• Apr 19-20: Diocesan Eucharistic Congress – Altoona-Johnstown PA
• June 20-23: St. Patrick Catholic Church – Summer Summit – London, England
• June 23-July 1: Rome Pilgrimage
• July 19-20: 2024 National Eucharistic Congress – Indianapolis IN
• Aug 10: Discipleship Conference – Oklahoma City OK
• Aug 23-24: Diocesan Faith Formation Conference – Tulsa OK
• Sept 21: 2024 Annual Meeting and Investiture of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Denver CO
• Oct 3: Diocese of Harrisburg Annual Priest Workshop – Hunt Valley MD