AS we embark ourselves to our journey to the third Sunday of Lent, we must also strengthen our faith to our Savior Jesus Christ by means of offering our time and ourselves through prayers and sacrifice.
The season of Lent is not only a time for reflection and repentance, but also an opportunity for us to offer some prayers and doing some sacrifice. As what Cardinal Tagle said on his pastoral letter for Lent, “now, God’s love awaits a response of love from us.”
In essence, during this week of Lent, we must practice some good deeds that will serve as our response to God’s love. Offering help to people in need all day is the first thing we should have accomplished at the start of this week. “If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?” (1 John 3:17).
Second, giving a simple smile followed by bringing something special for everyone and anyone are things we should have done in the following days of the week. This is in accordance to what Cardinal Tagle said, “our love for God is best expressed by the love we have for our brothers and sisters.”
As part of our sacrifices, refraining from bashing and saying bad things to others is also part of our journey to the third Sunday of Lent. This is to give importance to the gifts of God to us, including the life of other people. As what Cardinal Tagle also said, “a gift should not be taken for granted. A gift is something that we should be thankful for because that is a fruit of the love of the one who gives it.”
Also, we should offer a prayer for our family, the Church and friends in observance of our offering toward the third Sunday. By doing such thing, we are preparing not only ourselves but our brothers and sisters to be united with God.
“Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die” (1 Samuel 12:19-23).
Finally, we should also give away the things and clothes that we do not need any more as part of our sacrifice in our journey. This is in line with what Cardinal Tagle said, “we are especially called upon to exercise charity in our dealings with our neighbor.”
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me…” (Matthew 25:35-40).
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not forget that the season of Lent is also a time of offering to God as “the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
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