Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-58) - Fast with Contrite and Humble Hearts

Dearest Goddaughter,

Our Lord sees our hearts and knows our intentions; therefore, when we pray, fast, or give alms, let us do so with contrite and humble hearts. As the Lord warns us in the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday, let us not fast for show but, with humble and contrite hearts, truly desire to die to our old self and be renewed by entering into a deeper relationship with God this Lent.

Let our hearts be pure and our motives be true. God can help us come to know the fast that He wish. In today's first reading, we learn from the Prophet Isaiah what is acceptable to our Lord:

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:

releasing those bound unjustly,

untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

breaking every yoke;

Sharing your bread with the hungry,

sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own.

Pray. Fast. Give alms. Do all these Lenten observances with contrite and humble hearts and we will hear the Lord say to us: "Here I am!" when we pray, fast, and give alms. 

Today is Friday of Lent in which we fast and abstain from meat. It is also tradition for us to pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent. I invite you all to join me tonight at 7:00 for Stations of the Cross. The CDA #2220 Austin will be leading the Stations of the Cross after the KofC Lenten Fish Fry.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Is 58:1-9a and Mt 9:14-15 (below).

. . .

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,

but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn

as long as the bridegroom is with them?

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast.”