Day 1 – Await In Joyful Hope
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This is the second Lenten Season in an unprecedented global pandemic. This pandemic has disrupted our lives while awakening us in the process. As we continue to till the soil of our hearts, let us examine the wisdom of the Church’s liturgical calendar. Basically, why Lent, and how is it related to our spiritual life and growth?
Advent and Lent are the seasons of preparation, symbolized by the colour “purple”; Christmas and Easter the seasons of celebration, symbolized by “white”; and Ordinary Time the season of growth, symbolized by “green”.
As we look back at the theme of the Parable of the Sowers of our last Lenten Retreat, we come to appreciate more this rhythm of life — to prepare, to grow, and to celebrate. The more important part that requires so much of our attention is TO PREPARE.
“Preparation” is what we are called to do now during Lent. And preparation requires WAITING, a lot of it, which is not a popular concept especially in this fast-paced world. But if we dig deeper, it is not hard for us to realize that all good and lasting things require much waiting. When we were children, we used to save money to buy something we longed for; and that waiting heightened that joyful anticipation and made the purchased item more treasurable in our eyes.
This Lent, as we contemplate on The Parable of the Lost Son, also more well-known as the “Prodigal Son”, we will come to learn more about the beauty of waiting, our true identity, and to experience the Father’s Heart and the joy of joining the circle of celebration of our own rebirth in the Father’s House.
If you, like many, are dreadful about Lent because of the many rules and restrictions like fasting, penance, offering sacrifices, etc., please treat all these as shortcuts to acquiring the virtue of patience. Tilling the soil, watering and fertilizing, and all the labours in the field require lots of hardwork and perseverance, and oftentimes take the longest time in the grand scheme of things. As the late US President Theodore Roosevelt put it: “Nothing worth having comes easy.” Patience pays off at the end in the season of the harvest, as we celebrate together in God’s presence! This Lent, let us learn to Await in Joyful Hope as we journey with our Lord from His Passion, to His Death, and His glorious Resurrection.
REFLECTION
Have you ever experienced fruitfulness as a result of your patience?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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我的缺點就是沒有耐性,購物時我會衝動 因貪婪往往造成的過度消費過度及浪費，後悔卻改不得徹底，成了物質及金銨奴隸。
幾經多年掙扎，現堅決不會因自疚自卑而遠離天王。因為天主一直有幫助我，有所次四旬期，我要學習克制自律，磨練自己，為求天父接近，填補我內心的欠缺及不足。亞們。
等待，等待的日子為我來說，實在漫長，
「疫情的反覆」，「久久待業」，「與家人分離」，為我來說都是苦多於樂……求主給予我勇氣，力量去面對痛苦，讓我可用喜樂和忍耐的心來面對…………
天主，求祢在四旬期內幫助我好好去鍛鍊耐性的德行，教我學習祢慈悲的道路。
天主, 我自己的耐性都不夠。求聖神的助佑，锻練耐性的德行。學習主耶稣的慈悲面对身邊的人，特別是窮困，病弱或邊緣人，關心和施予援手。亞孟。
為你祈禱，求聖神帶領，聖母媽媽護佑
天父愛你。
全能慈悲的天父：由衷感謝祢！又賜我一個等待的寶貴機會。好珍惜這個四旬期退省的禮物，求祢與我每天在一起，去聖化我，改善我，使我一步一步的走近祢，與耶穌同葬同埋我的舊我，與祂一起復活於祢的慈悲大愛之中，亞孟
感谢赞美天主。
感谢主
您好，请问我这里怎么收不到最新的四旬期的材料呢？
由於教堂還未得重開彌撒，幸好還可以回小聖堂朝拜聖體。今日領完聖體亦送聖灰！經過整年疫情真是無奈，幸得靈性亦有滋潤，網上彌撒嘅讀經，反覆每日對主對人態度，令自己反思。希望四旬期内透過這次靜修，有所得著。讚美主！感謝主！
Waiting has been my enemy for almost forty years. I was impatient with my friend, hoping their attitude can be changed overnight. I also pray to God to grant my wish soonest. It’s only after retirement that I started to befriend with patience, resulting in amazing consequences. God has always been patient with me and I pray that I have the strength to do the same.
是的，在俗世中生活的我們，都是那個聖經故事的蕩子。我們被俗世操控，不斷犯罪，明知不對，但仍沉淪，不能自拔。惟獨是天主，我們的大父，仍然在等待我們悔改回家。
四旬期，就讓我們反思一生中有多少人，為我們的罪受苦，提醒自己不要辜負守候我們的天主。
真的，活在今天充滿挑戰和競爭的境況中，「等待」似乎已成了人的絆腳石，每天過着繁忙勞碌的生活裡，人漸漸地被這些生活模式所吞噬，甚至失去了原本天主所賜予人的本性和尊嚴。
主，我們實在需要這份內心既寧靜，又是活的靈修，請賜予聖神的光照，讓我們在這四旬期內，每天懂得在寧靜中尋覓祢的慈恩和心靈安憩之時，給我們更親近祢，反思生命的真諦！
等待是一个艰难的过程，因为我们不知道究竟什么时候可以看到成果？ 就如等待花开一样，可遇不可求。 在我生命中，我一直等待对的人。虽然过了婚龄，但是迟来的伴侣，让我们更加珍惜彼此。等待是值得的！
在急功近利的世界中，我很多時處事也欠缺耐性，急於求成，經不起考驗；今天的資料令我醒覺到天主原來用了無比的耐性，等待我悔改，我卻沒有耐性去體會天主偉大的贖世功績。希望這年的四旬期再給我反思機會，再好好去追尋天主的旨意，履行自己今世的責任。
主耶穌，感謝祢賜我一個機會，再次來到「心田的農夫」，祈望祢會與我同行，踏上歸家的路。
我本以為「等待」時常會令人苦惱，如今我却要学習如何以喜乐的希冀去等待。
感謝天主再有機會參與四旬期的網上退省。感謝生命恩泉的帶領和安排。懇求聖神指引我能恆常祈禱、齋戒和捨己為人服務好好地聖潔、喜樂地進入四旨期中。
Well done. Congratulations and prayers.
主耶穌：感謝祢再次讓我來到「心田的農夫」，請以明燈引領我往正向的道路跟隨袮，並學習以喜樂的心態去等待。感恩！
Waiting has been my enemy. I am impatient to listen in my conversation with others. Jesus please help me to be patient in every aspect of my life in waiting.
感谢天主???.
試過等待未，想了又想，有三次，就是懷孕時等待小天使出世。但又覺得不太像，因從開始已有一個明確的目標，雖然不是每位孕婦都能等待到一位健康的天使來臨。如看不到將來的等待，我真的不會去做，因為一直以為絕不可以只等待而不去改善。感謝主，現在知道為何要等待，希望能慢慢學會如何真心地去行使等待。感謝主。
仁慈天父，等待系好慢長的日子。祈求天父爸爸可給我帶來好的果實。感謝天主
多谢有杋会在此学习。
我是罪人，沒有耐性，並有很多毛病，求圣神带领，决心定改，做一个好教友.感谢天主??
感謝天主藉由這篇文章讓我再次意識到等待的重要性，等待對我一直不是件容易的事，願上主在我的生活及一切事務中，陪我一起等待，陪我以耐心去面對一切，特別是新的人事物和改變，阿們。
四旬期提醒我，要「积極亅的等待，要「积極的放下」去等待。（放下，好留出空間，去「接受亅即将來臨的恩賜和祝福。
願主讓我培養好耐性； 不急躁地生活
我是一位性急的人，當今天閱讀到等待的主題時，真的給了我很大的提醒。人總要慢下來才可以安靜，才能專心反思，尋找到真正的自己。求主賜予我能有等待的心，好使我懂得從祈禱中，靜待祢的俯聽、在失敗中能再接再厲，等待成功的一天。只有謙卑、和充滿信心地去等待……才能體驗到天父的美意安排！
one thing in my life it’s my enemy for being impatient with the people around me espcially when i am accuse for the right thing that i have done. I get very very upset on the spoilt my heart was very heavy.
Lord please help me in this Lent season show me where did i go wrong with my life. I want to surrender to you completely and have a sincere confession.
God, pls lead me to be patient of my workings, bring me into calm emotions when something suddenly happen in an office. Please let me focus on your rules, don’t let me into temptation and sins. Michael Angels , please protect Yan’s family safety.
多謝我的恩人：我敬愛的神父我親愛的修女我親愛的家人，一切都是主所賜。
多謝天主父
在屬世眼中的（看似的）痛苦實在是天主的恩賜 因那是讓我們回歸天父的其中一個提醒、一條道路…
等待是美麗的事，它可能漫長，但卻為我們帶來希望、期待，因為相信最好的，天父必然會給我們預備。在這四旬期日子，讓我們好好反思、悔過補贖，預備更好的明天。