Lent - Lent - Lent!

It's here - again! Calling us to fasting and prayer and almsgiving.
Do I really have to do that?
The gospel says so. Check out the Gospel for Ash Wednesday from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. IT could not be more clear.
One by one, let's explore each suggestion.

+ Prayer is conversation, it is a dialogue with God. Conversation is so important in our daily lives. We sustain relationships through conversation. If there is a breakdown in dialogue in a marriage, problems soon occur. Friends need to talk. When they don't, it does not take very long before a rift happens. We need to talk to God as well. The Lord wants to hear from us. He is a good listener. But we have to talk. That's prayer and it can take many forms ,-that's the beauty of it. You can talk to God by saying formal prayers, reflecting on the Sacred Scriptures, reading about some of the great saints of our tradition or finally you can use your own words. You can sit before the Blessed Sacrament and simply look at the tabernacle. You look at Him and He looks back at you. Good things happen through prayer. Prayer is lifting up our minds and hearts to God. You can do this anywhere. That's another plus. Driving to work, walking in a park, riding SEPTA, at home, in church, on your lunch break. Try it.. You might like it.

+ Fasting is disciplining your body, mind and spirit. It comes by way of making sacrifices, self-denial. Fasting toughens us. Lord knows, we need to be stronger. Imagine the athlete. A good example of how to condition ourselves! In order to win the race there is required a form of fasting, if you will. Eating the proper foods, getting the right amount of sleep, thorough workouts. Fasting in the spiritual life is no different. We need to be strong in the face of temptation. Satan is powerful. Satan can be very convincing. Satan can make evil look so good.
Satan really is a bully and the only way to handle this bully is to be strong morally? So, what will you do? How will you be conditioned to stand up for the truth, for what is good.

+Almsgiving is giving money. Oh, that hurts, you say. Especially today with this stressed economy. But remember, there is always someone out there worse off than you. The Rice Bowls are excellent opportunities to give alms, to make those little sacrifices that will physically help another. A percentage of the Operation Rice Bowl remains right here in our own Archdiocese to feed the hungry. Why not do the rice bowl meal in your home once a week during the season of Lent.