His Righteousness

Dear friend, begining on March 2, Ash Wednesday, we are entering into Lent; a very important and holy time of year.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states: ‘Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms: and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.’ from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/lent

Today, Sunday, February 28’s Gospel reading sets the tone for Lent and is taken from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6:39-45:

Jesus told his disciples a parable,

“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother ‘Brother let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the slinter in your brother’s eye.”

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by it’s own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

During Lent, we will be preparing our hearts and souls for the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. What better way to prepare yourself then to forgive those who have hurt you and build up your spirit to become a good person – a ‘good tree’. Remember,

“a good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of the store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

To sincerely prepare we must pray. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “if your heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain” (CCC 2562).

Is your heart far from God? If the answer is yes, God understands every reason and excuse you can give Him but he wants nothing more than for you to return to Him and his righteousness. The beautiful thing is…. it’s so easy. All you need to do is to humbly and repentantly ask God to come into your heart and remain there to guide you through your entire life from now until you meet Him face to face.

Let us give God thanks for His love and mercy for all eternity.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we humbly ask your forgiveness for our sin and failings. Keep us ever mindful of the brutal sacrifice your son made on the cross for our sins when he himself was sinless. With your loving guidance we can succeed. During the season of Lent let us be more mindful of the needs of others; especially the needs of the Ukraine people as they fight to defend their freedom. God Almighty, it is within your power to change the hearts of those who would use their power to take advantage of those less powerful. Hear the prayers of your devoted servants and if it be your will, end the fighting in the Ukraine and anywhere there is strife in our world bringing peace to all. In your Son’s name we fervently pray. Amen

May God be with you and may He continue to protect and guide you and yours.

Peace, love, joy and thanksgiving in Christ Jesus, our Savior!

Marie Antoinette

All life matters – from conception on!