FaithExamen

The Examen with Father James Martin, S.J.: The Fourth Week of Lent

James Martin, S.J. March 12, 2018

The Examen with Father James Martin, S.J.: The Fourth Week of Lent

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Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God gives you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?

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James Martin, S.J.

The Rev. James Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author and editor at large at America.

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