Each day during Lent, Ave Maria Press will be posting soup recipes and Lenten reflections from our Lenten prayer books here on the Ave Maria Press website. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more inspiration.
Reflection for Lent: Day 12
From Jesus, Friend of My Soul:
Jesus witnessed the birds of the air as he walked from place to place. He observed in their freedom of flight a metaphor of how to approach life’s inevitable stresses. From this observation, he expressed confidence in the Holy One’s care. Jesus trusted his Abba regarding concerns that pressed hard against his life, but this did not diminish his emotional responses to these concerns. Jesus was greatly disturbed about his friend’s death, grew angry at the hypocrisy of religious leaders, and expressed frustration when the disciples failed to absorb what he hoped to teach them. Jesus felt these emotions, but this did not mean he lacked trust in the Holy One’s care for him.
Southwestern Soup
Ingredients
1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced 
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 14-ounce can pink beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced fresh avocado, for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish
Cornbread, optional
Preparation
In the bottom of a slow cooker, combine pork, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Add broth, tomatoes, and beans; cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
When ready to serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with avocado and cilantro. Garnish soup with lime wedges. Serve with cornbread, if desired.
