Friday of the First Week of Lent - March 11, 2022

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Ezekiel 18:21-28         Matthew 5:20-26

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Lent is a time for spiritual renewal through fasting, prayer and generosity to the poor. Fasting improves the well-being of the body and the soul. Praying frequently and participating in Mass enriches our love of God. Limiting the resources we use for ourselves and sharing more with the poor and needy also demonstrates a good example to others.

Lent is a time for reflection and a time for healing. It is a time for forgiveness. Lent is a time to rid ourselves of resentment or ill-will over past conflicts. To return an injury for an injury corrupts the giver and can cause estrangements. When we do or say hurtful and wrongful things to another, we may affect not one but many others without realizing it.

Lent is a time to love each other, to love the poor, to seek justice for the oppressed and to motivate others to do the same. Lent is a time to be compassionate and forgiving; to provide stability, trust and continuity to our community.

Lent is a time to ask the lord to cleanse our hearts of arrogance and pride and to give us humble love. It is a time to confess our sins and avail ourselves of the healing sacrament of reconciliation and the reception of the Eucharist - our gift of the Lord. When we acknowledge our sinfulness and repent we experience a tremendous freedom.

Q:  Throughout Lent, make this my guiding thought each time someone hurts me - “Forgive and you will be forgiven.”


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