# Lent 2017 – Sharing God’s Grace in Our Lives
*2022-10-21*

> Bill Young reflects on the daily Lenten reflections of Pope Francis, the call to personal conversion, and how he uses his podcast and the internet to share the experience of God’s grace with others.

## Opening Thoughts on Lent

I’m grateful to Father Steve Mueller and St. Davidson Parish for providing the Lenten book “Lent: A Time of Grace – Daily Lenten Reflections by Pope Francis.” The introduction reminds us that Lent is a time of renewal and grace for the whole Church. Pope Francis invites us to draw deeper into God’s mercy, to let that grace transform us, and to become instruments of that mercy for others.

## The Power of One‑on‑One Witness

Conversion happens most powerfully in personal encounters. I compare this to my work with the Miami‑Dolphin Foundation’s 50‑50 raffle, where the real impact is the individual connection, not the total amount raised. Since starting this podcast in 2007, we’ve reached over 130,000 listeners—about 35 a day. While I can’t personally talk to each person, the internet lets me extend that one‑on‑one outreach to many.

## Scripture and Themes for Each Day

We follow the daily readings from the Lenten book:
• Ash Wednesday – 2 Cor 6:2 reminds us that “now is the acceptable time.”
• Thursday – Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
• Friday – Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself…”
• Saturday – Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.”
Each passage challenges us to open our hearts, deny selfishness, and pray in secret, seeking God’s reward rather than human applause.

## Prayer, the Rosary, and the Joyful Mysteries

We concluded the episode with a brief Rosary, praying the Joyful Mysteries (the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, and Finding in the Temple). The prayers centered on humility, obedience, and the love of neighbor, echoing the Lenten call to live in God’s presence.

## Prayers for the Beatifications of Frank Duff and Adele Quinn

We offered prayers for the cause of venerable Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary, asking that his intercession help us reach those who have never heard the Gospel. We also prayed for the beatification of Adele Quinn, asking for her intercession for the conversion of a prodigal son and for the spread of her example of holy living.

*Lent invites us to let God’s grace transform us so that, through prayer and modern means, we can share that grace with each person we encounter.*