Thanking God for Spring (together)
As the earth once again turns to face the sun we rejoice in this season of Spring. We give thanks, O God, that each day grows longer in light and that the earth has been liberated from the grip of winter.
We remember the resurrection of Your Son Jesus from the depths of death’s decay in the tomb, we lift our hearts to You in gratitude. We thank You for the gift of a day and all the graces it holds.
We ask for the grace, O God, to live in a new way. Grant us fresh dreams and new visions. May this day come upon us like Spring herself, so that our hearts may be filled with hope.
May we thus taste more deeply the joys of simply being alive. May we find the countless hidden treasures that You have scattered throughout this day and season! May Your peace rest upon all the members of the earthen family with whom You have made us one. Amen.
Three Pillars of Lent
1. Prayer (Matthew 6, 6:5 – 6:15)
6:5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
6:7 In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 6:9 Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
6:10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
6:13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'
6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
6:15 But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2. Fasting/Sacrificing (Matthew 6, 6:16 – 6:18)
6:16 "Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
6:18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
3. Alms Giving/Acts of Charity (Matthew 6, 6:1 – 6:4)
6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
6:4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
a) Alms Giving/Acts of Charity; Concern and Service to the Poor (Matthew 25, 31-46)
31 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.
32 All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,
36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."
37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"
40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." 41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."
44 Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?"
45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."
46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.'
~~~~~
Reflections
1) During this Lent, how have you experienced God calling you to bring hope and healing to those who are hurting? How might you act on such a call?
2) Think of an instance in which you literally needed someone to comfort you and/or your family. Are you vulnerable enough to ask for help?
“Everything a baptized person does each day should be directly or indirectly related to the corporal and spiritual work of mercy” ~Dorothy Day
“What we give to the poor for Christ’s sake is what we carry with us when we die” ~Fr. Robert Barron Closing Prayer
Leader: Dearly beloved, the apostle Paul has said: "If we suffer with Christ, we shall also be glorified with Him. Therefore whoever participates in the sufferings of our Redeemer enjoys the sure and certain hope of the glory He has promised." Hail, O Cross,
All: You are the only hope of man.
Leader: Let us pray. God, all powerful, look upon this staff with kindness: may your generous bounty take care of our bodies and Your solicitude watch over our souls. This we ask of You through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.
All: Amen.