Releasing, untying, breaking, sharing, sheltering, clothing, not turning your back….As we enter into the Lenten season, we are invited to embrace these actions.We are called to be merciful and to seek out justice. As much as Lent is a season of fasting, it is also a season of insight and action. Through fasting we clear away the distractions in our lives so that we can look squarely at the fractured world around us. We challenge ourselves to find ways to be the difference, and make a difference.

Lord, we pray that we can make room in our hearts to walk in the footsteps of Your son Jesus. We pray that we can open ourselves up to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and to meeting people where they are while companioning them on their journeys. During this Lenten season, please allow me to find ways to say “yes” to your call to action.

—Leigh M. Hartley works in higher education administration at the University of Chicago. Over the past 15 years she has volunteered with the Jesuits, initially with Charis Ministries more recently years through planning and organizing pilgrimages with Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.