#Lent via Radio & Twitter Spiritual Direction?

Tuesday night, I spent an hour preparing for Lent on Sheila Liaugminas’s Relevant Radio show, A Closer Look, with Fr. Steve Grunow. We try to do this semi-regularly – we’ve got a great dynamic that I can only attribute to life in the Trinity. I can’t pretend to excel on that front, but during these hours, the Spirit does seem to be at work on something (even when I go blank … especially?).

On the Fat Tuesday episode, we mainly talked about Christian persecution and Lent. I tried liveblogging a bit of it, during commercial breaks, but it was too quick moving to capture.

Yet, when I looked over my twitter feed, I did notice … if you’re experiencing an overwhelmed Lent already, this might be for you. Fr. Grunow offers some spiritual guidance and pastoral aides for our responsibility as we watch the headlines of our day.

I later, by the way, learned on Facebook the super healthy padre had characteristically had steamed broccoli and egg whites, making me wonder how you fast when you’ve started there before Ash Wednesday. The answer of course, is that the spiritual retreat this season affords, is not about food, not about making yourself healthier by giving up chocolate or booze, it’s about the salvation of souls. Of yours. Of mine. Of everyone you love and everyone you don’t. What is the witness we provide? What are the works of mercy we do? How great is your love of the Father, God who loved you first, who seeks your reciprocity)?

Some sense of the conversation via Twitter, in case any of it it helps your #Lent …

i'm still here … http://t.co/TuAUqKcNB1 via @NRO

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

we in the U.S. largely live in the luxury wing of the church… — @frstevegrunow on @sheilareports @relevantradio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

we in the U.S. are so often protected from persecution, from actually having to risk our lives – @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

We have to turn attention away from ourselves and focus on the persecuted — – @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

This persecution is the most important issue in the news today. It is urgent. It is shameful to lookaway. @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

there is persecution of a specific minority happening today&they are Christian. We must be clear about this.- @FrSteveGrunow

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

this is a time for clarity, confidence, courage, commitment, consistency & unceasing prayer #PersecutionOfChristians

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

bad theology leads to bad culture. It leads to idolotry. — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

read Pope Benedict’s Regensberg Address — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports on @RelevantRadio http://t.co/mqDr9cxi6s

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

we are the descendants of persecuted minorities…we have a kinship with the persecuted — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports on @RelevantRadio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

the charitable works of the church is often the only wall standing between the persecuted and tyranny — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

Bad theology leads to coarseness, unforgiveness, violence — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 18, 2015

Catholics are members of largest charitable community in the world.Be serious about that responsibility. @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 18, 2015

we grasp at the categories we understand … and miss a lot — @FrSteveGrunow on @sheilareports on @relevantradio

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

#Lent should take us out of ourselves and into the mystery of #HolyWeek …and to the radiant light of the presence of God @FrSteveGrunow

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 17, 2015

I think people have noticed that Pope Francis talks about mercy. Also encounter. #EncounterMercy face to face in the confessional. #Penance

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) February 18, 2015