What does a Lenten sacrifice involve?  Let's face it -- for many of us the answer is little or nothing and the more relevant question that comes to mind is, why bother?  This year I had the opportunity to take a serious look at the subject of making a Lenten sacrifice as I prepared for my guest homilist role on the first Sunday in Lent.  This article invites you to join me in my effort.

Wayne Floyd shares his thoughts on weekday spirituality in a special podcast episode courtesy of St. Alban's.

It's Tuesday. You've gotten up early, had a cup of Starbuck's, and read the Express on your Metro trip to work. You had a laugh reading the humor column. It's a gorgeous day outside. You get to the office, and begin your day. Everything is going so well, then-BAM!-something happens that throws a kink in the system. Maybe it's something you forgot to do yesterday, and now you're sweating to get it done. Maybe you get the "blue screen of death" and lose the work you've been doing for the last hour. Or worse...maybe your boss tells you that it's your last day and that you should pack your things.

So today, in this liturgical season of Epiphany, we encounter Jesus as an adult, about to make a radical change in his life.  In the church world, "epiphany" means a manifestation of God in man.  We saw this last week when the Magi recognized Jesus as the Christ child.  This week we see it in the baptism of Jesus.  However, this episode begins with another kind of epiphany:  Jesus' sudden realization that he must go to Judea to be baptized by John.  Somehow Jesus knew that this strange, locust- and wild honey-eating man was the key to finding his purpose in life.