This verse from Matthew's Gospel is the Biblical basis of the period called Lent, a time of preparation for the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And just as we need time to prepare for any major event in life, so we need take time out to prepare to participate in the Easter event.

Meditation 1: Reconciliation

Lent is a special time in the year when we make room for the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is a time when we go into our own inner wilderness and confront our darkness. Through prayer and self-examination we will be enabled to love Jesus more and to follow him more closely. So let us begin by "Putting out into the deep and letting down our nets ..."

Luke 18:9-13
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, *God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

Let me say to the Lord in the stillness of my heart 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

• Stay with each word as you repeat the phrase 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
• Consider for a moment whatever is disordered in my life that affects my relationship with God.
• Ask yourself "Do I possess the humility before God shown by the tax collector?" Really?
• Final point: "How much of me is Pharisee and how much tax collector?