2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 20 – Halfway Rest Stop

Imagine that! We reached the halfway point of Great Lent with another rest stop. It is a good day to rest and refresh for the next half of Great Lent which takes a stricter tone. Rest, but do not stop! Ease your fasting, but do not feast. Find a park to sit and reflect.

Saint Paul wants us to always look back and see the struggle we have already endured. This isn’t so that we lose hope. It is for us to see how much we can accomplish when we put our mind to it. As the saying goes, ‘You can do more than you think.’ Here’s today’s readings.

Brethren, recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.  For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.  Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.  “For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry; but my righteous one shall live by faith.” – Hebrews 10.32-38

At that time, as Jesus passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaios sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2.14-17

No matter how strictly you are fasting, today you should fast less because it is Saturday, the Sabbath. YES! We still honor the Sabbath, but in a new way. ““The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2.27)

Here’s the thing about rest stops. When we look back with honest eyes we also see where we could have done more. We could have offered God more of our time, more of our life. We could have spent less time playing and more time praying. A rest stop resets our endurance.

Enjoy today but remain focused on God. Enjoy your rest but remain vigilant. Our Great Lenten Journey isn’t over quite yet. If our Daily Lenten Journey has been a blessing to you this year, please consider making a safe online donation today and help up reach our fundraising goal.