For A Fruitful Lent

Matthew 6:1-6

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Today's Gospel sets the tone for what we all hope will be a time of cleansing, renewal and drawing closer to Jesus. Jesus presents the guidelines that will yield a fruitful Lent. The important question to ask ourselves frequently is:  Am I loving God and my neighbor as a result of my fasting, my prayer, and my almsgiving?  We can get caught up with doing "spiritual pushups" but not growing in love for Jesus or compassion for "the least favored", the poor and neglected. Being faithful to daily prayer, perhaps adding some extra time, will help us "stay the course" and keep us focused on the WHY of all these sacrifices, and efforts to eradicate bad habits, or become more self-disciplined. 

Jesus admonishes us not to broadcast our Lenten regimen, which fits into our Maris Way of "doing good quietly in the Way of Mary." Let us ask her for the grace we need to do all for Jesus, and to do it quietly.

Make it "A Lent Well Spent".

Bro. Rene