Christmas is the time most of us think about giving gifts. The three Magi in the Christmas story gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts represented the infant Jesus as God, as High Priest, and as the Sacrificial Lamb who died on the cross for us. During the season of Lent we are also called to give gifts. The gifts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the traditional gifts of Lent. Unlike the gifts from the Magi, however, the gifts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are sacrificial gifts of ourselves, and therefore fitting gifts to our God.

Prayer allows us to be loved by God the Father. Prayer places us in the position to listen and to give God all that we are, our expectations and hopes. Prayer is a sacrifice of praise and intercession. The gift of prayer is the way we unite ourselves to Jesus and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit who makes all things new.

Fasting is a great spiritual tradition. Fasting represents the element of expectation of the Lord. It is the opening of the heart, stripping oneself of everything that is an obstacle to the gift of Christ’s coming. During Lent, fasting represents being pilgrims toward the great gift of Easter. We must rediscover the need and desire for God as the center of our existence, emptying ourselves in order to be full of God.

Almsgiving is more than an act of giving; it is an attitude of the heart. It is an attitude of heart that is humble, repentant, merciful, compassionate, and which seeks to imitate with others the experience of mercy that each of us receives from our God. Almsgiving, therefore, is care, is discernment, is gift – all of these being part of what we have experienced as believers when we contemplate the love of God that accepts and forgives us.

During Lent we need to rediscover the value of sacrifice through the gifts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. A sacrifice is a gesture of love which costs something and is done in praise of God and for some one who is suffering and in need. There is no love without sacrifice, just as without love, sacrifice would be simply external restraint. Sacrifice is an offering of love. We must not forget the great example that Jesus gave us, and remember that “God so loved the world that he did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. (John 3:16)”

Is yours an award-winning parish?

Now is the time to apply for one of ICSC's ANNUAL   

       

For more information see
                                                         the "AWARDS" page

---