Many spiritual writers suggest reading parts of the Bible during Lent. Sometimes they recommend reading the book of Exodus, as that book can help us feel as though we are in the desert, wandering with the people of Israel for 40 years.
Another alternative is to meditate more frequently on the Passion narrative.
The Church typically saves the Passion reading for Holy Week, but that does not mean that we can't read it over and over again throughout Lent.
In fact, it is something that the Church highly recommends, as the Directory on popular piety and the liturgy explains:
The Church exhorts the faithful to frequent personal and community reading of the Word of God. Undoubtedly, the account of the Lord's Passion is among the most important pastoral passages in the New Testament.
Wednesdays and Fridays
While Catholics are not limited to reading the Passion on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent, the Church highly recommends setting aside time on those days:
During Lent, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, love for our Crucified Savior should move the Christian community to read the account of the Lord's Passion.
Fridays always recall the Passion of Christ, as if every Friday were Good Friday.
Wednesdays often bring to mind the betrayal of Christ by Judas, as with the various traditions on Spy Wednesday.
Again, this doesn't mean that the Passion should only be read on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent, but it does provide for us an option if we aren't able to fit-in any reading of it during the rest of the week.
The Directory explains some of the spiritual benefits of reading the Passion:
Such reading, which is doctrinally significant, attracts the attention of the faithful because of its content and because of its narrative form, and inspires true devotion: repentance for sins, since the faithful see that Christ died for the sins of the entire human race, including their own; compassion and solidarity for the Innocent who was unjustly condemned; gratitude for the infinite love of Jesus for all the brethren, which was shown by Jesus, the first born Son, in his Passion; commitment to imitating his example of meekness, patience, mercy, forgiveness of offenses, abandonment to the Father, which Jesus did willingly and efficaciously in his Passion.
If you are looking for something new to do during Lent, try reading and meditating on the Passion narrative.
