“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 6: 1)
The Bible passage above, taken from today’s daily Catholic readings struck a chord with me. In this Year of Service, nothing rings more true to me than to go about my day, quietly performing acts of service for my fellow man. And if the Year of Service means as much to you as it does to me, then the Lenten season is the perfect time to re-commit to this ideal.
As we all know, Lent is about preparing for the Resurrection through penance and fasting. I have a feeling that many people skip the fasting part and go straight for the penance part of the equation. Usually, that means “giving up” something. That something is also usually unhealthy food or other unhealthy habits we shouldn’t be doing anyway. Is there much sacrifice in such acts? Is this truly what it means to serve the Lord?
I want to challenge myself (and anyone on this journey with me) to use this Lenten season as a time of personal renewal. Not just in your faith, but in your commitment to service. Become a better YOU. Embrace the spirit of giving, for giving’s sake. Don’t expect a reward. Don’t do it because others are watching. To borrow from Nike: Just do it.
There are countless ways to serve our fellow man. When I think about Lent during my younger years, I am reminded of the “old” Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl. I remember that paper “bowl” sitting in our kitchen or on the dining table during Lent. We (well, mostly my parents) would drop spare change in it and then deliver it back to our parish on Easter. It was a reminder that there are millions of people out there who are much less fortunate. People that we can serve with a very small gesture…
In fact, did you know the CRS Rice Bowl is 40 years old this Lent? If you are searching for a way to bring gratitude and service into your own home, visit their website at http://www.crsricebowl.org/
Another great organization that is on the front lines of the battle against poverty is Unbound. Unbound creates sponsors of its donors, matching them up with specific people. Essentially, its donors become pen pals (and more) with the people they sponsor. You can find more information here: https://www.unbound.org/
As for me, well, I intend to make this My Best Lent Ever. Thanks to an ex-teammate of mine from Benedictine College, I have gravitated to this website: BestLentEver.com. Each week, they are going to focus on a particular theme of the Catholic faith. If you aren’t Catholic, please feel welcome to check it out and to contact me if you have any questions about the content. If you are Catholic, stop by today and sign up.
No matter how you decide to prepare for the Resurrection of our Lord, please take some extra time to seriously consider your commitment to a Year of Service. There is no time like the present. As we are reminded during Lent, life is too short:
“For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:19)