Lenten Reflection Day 27 ~ Friday Fourth Week of Lent

Opening Prayers:

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Confiteor (see Day 1).

Scripture Reading (Isaiah 65:17–18):

“For behold I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former things shall not be in remembrance, and they shall not come upon the heart. But you shall be glad and rejoice forever in these things, which I create.”

Reflection:

The prophet Isaiah brings a note of hope and joyful anticipation - a foretaste of Easter that inspires perseverance in our Lenten effort. The Lord speaks of a “new heavens and a new earth,” an eternal renewal that begins already in the soul that repents and follows Him. Lent is not only about sorrow for sin; it is also about longing for restoration.

God does not simply “patch up” our brokenness. He re-creates. Just as He brought forth light from darkness at the dawn of creation, He desires to bring forth grace from our contrition. Lent, then, is a time of spiritual re-creation. Our penances are not mere punishments, but tilling of the soil, that God may plant new life.

The words “the former things shall not be in remembrance” encourage us not to remain stuck in guilt or past failures. When God forgives, He forgets. His mercy is radical and renewing, and He invites us to move forward in joy. As He says through Isaiah, “You shall be glad and rejoice forever…”

This promise echoes Revelation 21:5: “Behold, I make all things new.” It is the same Lord speaking. Lent is our journey toward that newness, beginning now in grace, fulfilled at Easter, and ultimately perfected in Heaven. We are pilgrims in time but citizens of eternity.

The season’s difficulty; fasting, penance, spiritual battle, will give way to Easter joy. Just as winter’s barrenness gives way to spring’s blossoms, so too will the interior disciplines of Lent yield a deeper life in Christ. Today is a moment to rejoice in hope, even amid trial.

Take ten minutes today to quietly contemplate what “new life” God may want to bring forth in your soul. Ask: What grace is God offering me this Lent? What must I let go of to receive it?

Resolve to let go of one lingering attachment; material, emotional, or habitual—that is holding you back from joy in God.

Saintly Insight:

St. Irenaeus of Lyons taught, “The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man is the vision of God.”

God’s plan is not to diminish us, but to make us fully alive in Him. Lent purifies our sight so we may behold His glory and live more fully in His grace.

Closing Prayers:

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: Let us bless the Lord.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R: Amen.