Daily Lenten Reflection – First Sunday of Lent (February 22, 2026)

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Psalm 51 is the cry of a man who has come face to face with his own sin. After the sin of David with Bathsheba and the confrontation by the prophet Nathan, David does not defend himself or silence the messenger. He admits sin and turns to God with a broken spirit. This daily Lenten reflection brings that same truth into the present moment. Real repentance begins when pride gives way to honesty.

A broken and contrite heart is not weakness. It is clarity. It is the moment a person stops pretending and recognizes sin for what it is in the sight of God. Many people avoid this word today. Sin is often softened into “mistakes” or “poor choices,” as if it carries no deeper meaning. Scripture does not allow that. Sin is a rupture in the relationship with God, and no amount of rewording changes that reality.

The force of this passage is simple and direct. God does not reject the one who comes in truth. He does not require perfection before mercy is given. He asks for honesty. This is why David was restored. Not because he was a king, but because he refused to hide. He did not attack the prophet or justify his actions. He acknowledged his sin and asked for mercy.

Lent calls each person to the same place. When sin is ignored or explained away, the heart remains closed. When it is faced with sincerity, God begins His work of restoration. There is no need to pretend that everything is fine. God already knows the truth.

A broken spirit is not the end of faith. It is the beginning of it. When the heart turns back to God without excuses, mercy follows.

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