This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! IS 58:1-9
Whatever you fast from this Lent, take the money you would have spent and give it to the poor. Clean out your closets and give to a place in your city that clothes the homeless, more importantly take your favorite clothes you received from Christmas or bought with Christmas money and give it to the homeless (Passageways, LTD). Serve someone food in your family today. Take time you would spend playing on your tablet, phone, or video games and make yourself present to your family by helping with supper, cleaning dishes, babysitting, doing laundry, or cleaning not just your room but someone else’s room, too. Then, you will see Jesus and He will say, “Here I am!”
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Psalm 51: 5-6
Our sins are always before us. How much guilt do you put on yourself? Do you still hold onto sins you have already been to confession for? The beauty of the cross is that God forgets, has the power to wipe them away completely, so why are you still holding on to the things of the past. They are just holding you back. This Lent forgive yourself, God already has. One of my students reminded me that God’s mercy is as vast as the ocean and our sins are small compared to His mercy. Stop crucifying yourself and set yourself free from pain and guilt of the past, allow God to set you free.
Today’s challenge: Give, be present to others, forgive yourself.
Total Consecration: Consecration Day!
Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
Recent Comments