“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” -Mt 6:1-6
When we give to others with our whole hearts, we are not only giving to them, but giving to God as well. We should never expect gain or recognition from giving, but give as our Lord Jesus, who came down from Heaven and so selflessly gave His life to save us from an existence of sin. During this time of Lent, we strive to remember that we are the ambassadors of Jesus. It is important to recollect that it is not what possessions we own that matter, but the giving of our full selves to the message of God’s mercy, the message of prayer and fast, and work together to follow the way of righteousness and graciousness our Lord offers to each one of us. For when we truly take time in our daily lives to provide in the simplest ways, we receive the greatest repayment of all — the repayment of God our Father.
Prayer
God our Father, please allow us during this season of Lent to give as selflessly to others as our Lord Jesus gave to us. Help us to take time during our busy lives to reflect on the blessings we encounter every day and focus on seeking mercy and compassion. Amen.
Alex Byrne, ‘14
Scripture
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51:3-6a, 12-14, 17
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
2 comments:
Thanks for your beautiful reflection Alex to start us off on our Lenten journey! The reminder to give selflessly to others is wonderful as we consider not only what we are "giving up" for Lent, but what we are "giving" to others.
What an excellent reflection, encompassing the spirit of Lent. It is wonderful to see St. Michael's represented by great students who understand the Scripture readings. Kudos to Alex!
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