Almsgiving (charity) is one of the three traditional practices of Lent.  When preaching about almsgiving, Jesus focuses on purity of intention.  We should love others for their sake and for the glory of God.  St. Paul paints a portrait of the Christian heart in his letter to the Ephesians.  Christian charity is especially imbued with understanding of others and selflessness in service. 

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Moses encounters God on Mount Horeb in the burning bush.  We do so in our Lenten prayer and penance.  The time for conversion, for correspondence to Christ's offer of mercy, is limited.  Like the fig tree given just one year more to produce fruit, our life and our Lenten season are passing by. 

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Lent is a time of self-denial.  The higher, better part of ourselves strives to deny and to master our lower nature.  This interior struggle is a necessary condition for Christian life.  In emptying ourselves out, especially of our pride, we invite God to enter in. 

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David composes Psalm 51 as an extended act of contrition.  This follows his being convicted of his sin by the Prophet Nathan.  The "Miserere Psalm" can help us enter into Lent well, focussed on bravely recognizing and humbly repenting of our sinful deeds and state. 

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"Spes non confudit" -- with these words from St. Paul, Pope Francis invited the Church to celebrate the Jubilee year of 2025.   Living Christian hope, firmly based on God's love for us, we can become beacons of hope for many others. 

"Spes non confudit" -- with these words from St. Paul Pope, Francis invited the Church to celebrate the Jubilee year of 2025.   Living Christian hope, firmly based on God's love for us, we can become beacons of hope for many others. 

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Jesus tells us to pray to have the strength "to stand before the Son of Man."  When we die we will be judged by God.  This is a hard truth but also a truth that saves us.  If we ask God for the courage to see ourselves as we really are now, we will be prepared for our death and God's judgment.  Reliance on God's grace, fostering sincerity with ourselves and others, living charity, and regularly examining our conscience are all ways to avoid self-deception and to prepare for our definitive meeting with God. 

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"Where are you?"  This is God's haunting question to Adam and to fallen humanity.  "Here I am!" This is our response to Christ's search and rescue mission on our behalf.  

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"To be eucharistic souls" was a great ideal proposed by St. Josemaria.  Having our lives and hearts shaped by what we celebrate in the eucharist has various manifestations in our spiritual life.  Adoration, receptiveness to God's love, imitating Christ's charity, joy, and thanksgiving are among the characteristics of truly eucharistic souls.  

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This week we celebrated the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.  Thomas believed that the Crucifix was his greatest book and source of wisdom.  Guided by St. Thomas, we too can learn great spiritual lessons of from Christ by contemplating his passion. 

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