March 15, 2011
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
By Beth DeCristofaro
Thus says the LORD: … So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:1,11)
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4-5)
Jesus said to his disciples: … “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8-13)
Piety
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Study
Reading the Our Father in Lent can causes me to consider it in slightly different ways than usual. Imagine, we have the words of the Son in which to address God!
Fasting: “Give us this day our daily bread” The forty days of Lent are a good time to consider deeply and honestly what it is that our bodies need and accept only what is necessary as a definite gift from God. Although I doubt that God believes that a double shot, white chocolate latte with extra whipped cream or a New York sized meat-lovers pizza are essentially evil, I suspect that a loving God does not appreciate what those supposed foods do to God’s amazing creation, the human body. Ask for and receive the daily gifts with joy – fasting can be a way to appreciate what we have rather than be overwhelmed by what we crave.
Almsgiving: Jesus spoke often about caring for the poor, the sinner and the oppressed. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.“ And God’s will is that all humans have a right to be treated as God’s children. All we have is from God. Heaven is open to all who love God. In best doing the will of God it is certainly not in keeping our fingers tightly closed around that which we prize: money, status, homes, rank, patriotism or the like. God’s caring for is merciful and generous. In these times there are perhaps too many needs around the globe. How wonderful to be able to envision God’s will here on earth in so many ways!
Charity: How do we love? Do we “forgive those who trespass against us”? Or do we love more having the last word? Do we love to prove others wrong? Do we love to hold a grudge – especially if a hurt was delivered by someone we trusted and cared for? Can we have the conviction that we are truly loved by the God who created us and gave us His only Son if we measure God’s forgiveness against our own? Or do we rationalize that God forgives us even though we fall short because we are just so human and just so imperfect. As we pray for forgiveness let us forgive.
Action
During this first week of Lent, pray the Our Father with your chosen Lenten practices in mind. Are you finding yourself drawing ever closer to Our Father?
