One of the things that saddened and angered Jesus was a hardened heart. Some of the Pharisees and Scribes had a hardened heart, when it came to understanding, let alone accepting Jesus. They were closed to his words, to the signs and wonders that they saw and ultimately to the person of Jesus.

Do we have a hardened heart? Most of us would say no. Do we commit our lives to Jesus as Lord, or are there aspects of our life we withhold from him? Isn't this what we are dong when we allow any habit of sin to remain as a normal part of our life? Is there any un-forgiveness  in our heart? Is that not a sign of a part of our heart that is hardened?

Lent is a grace-time of change and conversion, allowing the mercy of God to soften and renew our hearts. Here is a suggestion. Find a small pebble or stone and carry it in your pocket or purse. As you touch it at various times, let it remind you of those areas in your heart that are hardened. These are the areas that need to broken down through the mercy of God.