Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment. JL 2:12-18
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 5:20-6:2
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” MT 6:1-6, 16-18
Repent=returning to God with your whole heart, reconciling yourself with Him (confession), fighting to not return to sin, change
Prayer=talking to God, time and eternity meet, “Prayer is the key to God’s heart.” -Padre Pio, Prayer “changes things”-Peter Kreeft
Fasting=giving something up that we desire, Jesus taught us this as a way to resist temptation while he was in the desert, teaches us that we have the ability through Christ’s death on the Cross NOT to give in to our every desire, we can control ourselves, this helps us stop habitual sin
Almsgiving=give Alms, Rice Bowl, local charity, see the face of Christ in the poor and homeless (this is why God gives us the poor) Mother Teresa says, “The poor spread the Gospel better than anyone because they know how to suffer and work hard.” Corporal Works of Mercy
God doesn’t hate chocolate! If you just go through the routine of Lent (give up chocolate or sweets), get down on your knees and ask God what in your life is keeping you from Him. Spend this Lenten journey giving your whole heart to God. Take a risk, be ready for change and a great adventure!
Today’s challenge: Ask God how you can spend this Lent coming back to Him with your whole heart! Sit in silence and listen.
Christian YOLO
Become a saint!
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