Lenten Observances
So far this week, our readings have focused our thoughts on prayer and after Friday, the Christian Day of Atonement, Saturday calls us to perfection.
“In a word, you must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5: 48)
The first week of Lent really sets the tone for us to attain “that closer walk”, enabled by honest self-examination.
We are also reminded that the three legs of the Lenten stool are: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Almsgiving is not merely the sharing of money. Good Christian stewardship calls for the sharing of time, talent and treasure.
Do we have room for further sacrifice/sharing?
3 comments:
I think that when it comes to social justice, most people are overwhelmed, and rather than commit to something, however small it may be, do nothing. I have been trying to convince people to just take the change out of their pockets and set it aside. It would be amazing if everyone in our little parish did that every day during Lent. If little things are all we can do then let us do them whole-heartedly and as well as we can.
Tom
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have little importance when God is not first in our life. We must put God in charge... in the driver's seat. The honest self-examination should set this perspective first, then like the potter's clay, we can be molded more perfectly to Christ. As this earthen vessel we can definitely do so much more in our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
When I think of the children of the world and how they suffer, I think of the suffering Christ who lives among us in these children. The ones who do not have a cup of water or a bowl of soup. We need to help children to realize that they are the children of ABBA. I hope this Lent that we can help children everywhere by what we do.
Post a Comment