“If you lavish your food on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall become like midday … And you shall be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:10-11).

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and support from a sponsor, we are led through Step Eight and Step Nine to offer reparation for our past behavior. When we make amends, we indeed “satisfy the afflicted,” those we have hurt prior to our finding recovery. Throughout our journey, we can interpret Isaiah’s words “bestow your bread on the hungry” similarly to bestow your “recovery” on the suffering as we work Step 12: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs” (Alcoholics Anonymous). As Catholics, this message sheds the light of Christ. This Lent, may we enhance our own inner conversion to attract others to want what we have.

Reflection Questions

• What might fasting from shortcomings and character defects look like for you this Lent?
• How have you experienced Step 12 as a reflection of your faith?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Reflection by Mary Beth R.