March 9. Let them be covered with sackcloth and let them cry mightily to God.   Paula, the joker said,  “Remember the other day we talked about fasting.  Well I’ve never seen anyone putting on sackcloth. It must feel horrible. But that is not the point is it? It is about repentance.  I like the word metanoia.  It is turning back from times when we have abused our own rights and ignored rights of others.  I think it is also about responsibility, the opposite of rights. Our family did an exercise on family rights; the right to life, to a house, and lots of stuff that doesn’t all apply to me now, but I do have a lot to be responsible for, even how to use my time and my money.“                 Reflect, share and act. Scripture: The king made a proclamation: “let neither man nor beast taste anything, let them not feed or drink but let them be covered with sackcloth and let them cry mightily to God: let him turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger.” God saw what they did and did not do what he said he would do to them. Jonah 3:1-10   Pope Francis:   Together with our obligation to use the earth’s goods responsibly we are called to recognize that other living beings have a value of their own in God’s eyes. ‘by their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.’  By virtue of our unique dignity and our gift of intelligence, we are called to respect creation and its inherent laws for the Lord by wisdom founded the earth. LS 69.  SA Youth Responsibilities Bill 8:   The right to own property places on me the responsibility to protect private and public property and not take what belongs to others. Choose an act of love and sacrifice from the list, also published at www.marfam.org.za/lent