Dear Parishioners,
Lent is coming very soon. Have you picked out your penance yet? (Or decided to, “Give something up,” as some like to put it.) It’s a good spiritual practice to take on a special penance during Lent so that we can overcome love of self and to open ourselves to the grace of God. We can often use the things of this world to excess and the penances we take on help to correct that tendency. If you have never tried to go without something for forty days, now this year is a perfect opportunity to try it. When we take on a Lenten Penance, we first need to ask ourselves one simple question: what am I loving more than God? The answer to this question might be radically different depending on who is answering. Some people might be great at prayer, but they have no self-control when eating. Others may be really into charity work, yet barely ever pick up a bible. Once we examine where we fall short, it is then good to pick something that really challenges. Maybe we could take on spiritual reading, purposefully avoid a certain food, spend some time caring for the poor or pray the rosary every day. It depends on the individual and where they are on their journey of faith.
After Lent is over, depending on how well we did, we will either be glad that we overcame our faults or we will realize just how much we need the mercy of God. Either way, we can praise God for all the opportunities we have to show Him our love. Trust in His Strength, His Love and His Mercy.
God bless!
Fr. Carter
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION: SPENDING TIME
Stewardship of time is one of the three interlinked dimensions of our call to stewardship. Just as with our financial resources, we talk about spending time, saving time, and wasting time. But how well do we steward our time, or use it in a way that reflects our gratitude to God for every hour of every day?
According to the latest government survey, the average American spends about 5 hours of “spare” time each day in these activities:
- 2.8 hours watching TV
- 38 minutes socializing and communicating
- 20 minutes reading
- 20 minutes using the computer for fun
- 17 minutes participating in sports, exercise, active recreation
- 16 minutes relaxing and thinking
- 20 minutes on “other activities”
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
How do you use your leisure time? Where do your priorities lie? How much time do you give back to God—in prayer, study, volunteering in the parish? “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” (Psalm 90:12)