We are almost half way through the season of Lent. Often by this stage our initial commitments and enthusiasms have faced and the demands and routines of daily life have again overwhelmed us. While this may be a problem for us, it is no problem with God who delights in working in the midst of our human weaknesses and anxieties.

In the Good Shepherd Hurunui parish this year the Parish Council distributed the little daily Lenten reflection Magnificat booklet to all households listed on the parish roll. The initial reception was positive and the idea of praying together as a parish for a few moments each day using the same reflection material was well received.

I remember the response of one dairy farmer as he held the booklet I had just given him: “By the end of Lent this little booklet will be covered with bits of all the stuff you find in my milking shed.” He already had the right idea about how to use the booklet to help focus the free moments in the midst of daily life.

This morning’s reflection on the human voice got me thinking about the power of our voices, not about whether or not we can sing as on the TV show The Voice but about the power of my words to harm or to heal others. A worthy Lenten consideration.

Today’s Magnificat reflection concluded with the question: “Who might turn toward the Lord this Lent, because they heard your voice?”