Readings: JL 2:12-18; PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17; 2 COR 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Each year, as we begin our Lenten Journey, we often ask each other the question, “What are you giving up this lent?” When we ask this question, to some degree, we want to measure ourselves against others, to help us know if we are “doing enough” this Lent.
Lent is a time of repentance. A time for us to examine our past mistakes, our past sins, and a time to make changes in our lives. It is a time to refocus on our relationship with Jesus, and with each other.
As we begin Lent, we hear about the three major spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting in the Gospel reading. These practices come from our Jewish heritage into our Christian community. Almsgiving, usually in the form of helping those in need, should be based on our understanding that everything we have, is a gift from God, that has been given to us to share with others. Prayer, both individual and communal, is our response to God for forming us and rescuing us. And fasting, whether it is from food, social media, television or anything else that draws us away from God, should be used to help us be drawn closer to God. This can be done by spending more time with God and by helping us learn how to overcome temptations from the evil spirit who is pulling away from God.
By practicing these spiritual disciplines during Lent, it should change us. It should make us a different person at Easter from the one who received the ashes on Ash Wednesday.
With this in mind, how will this Lent change you?
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