Monday of the First Week

Reflection

Whether we like it or not, Lent is a season of discipline—a season of tangible growth and change in preparation of the glory of Easter.  And while the thought of Lenten discipline may turn our minds immediately to fasting, abstention from meat, and omission of “Alleluia” from our vocabulary, the readings and Gospel for today provide us with so much more.  The Lord is explicit in His instructions today, my friends.  In the first reading, He begins, with no small task, by saying to Moses, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”  In many ways, I believe that this invitation—this divine call to action — is the succinct and beautiful epitome of the Lenten season.  Be holy, for the Lord our God is holy. The instructions that follow are equally important, “You shall not steal.  You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself”…and many more.

 

The readings today remind us of the purest and love-motivated discipline that we should strive to exemplify throughout our Lenten journey this year.  Our fasting, our abstentions, our “giving up”—these disciplines are significant—and they help us grow.  However, I pray that our determination to be holy, as our Lord is, will guide our spiritual growth and transform our hearts that we may enter the Church on Easter Sunday as a truly changed Easter people. 

 

 Prayer
Lord, open our ears to hear Your call to holiness today.  Help us to discipline ourselves throughout this season of Lent to appreciate our earthly and bodily sacrifices but also to consciously change our mind and our actions to become more holy like You.  Amen. 

 

Eliza McDonald, ’17

 

 

Scripture
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Psalm 19:8-10, 15
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website