Lent Is A Time To Quietly Examine Our Relationships – Struggling With Temptations –  Indebted To God – Happiness Is A Choice

Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast

Lent Is A Time To Quietly Examine Our Relationships

We examine our relationships with others as well as with the Lord. Too often we want to ignore, even criticize, the ones who give us the best advice. Lord, let me hear you speaking through others. – from Sacred Silence. “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38) Reflect in silence. Close your eyes and you will hear God and others.  Hear and listen to God always.  He is on our side.  How joyful it is to hear His comments in the Silence.  We also fast not from our favorites. This time reflect on things around you, serving the poor with a gentle voice and a good smile. This “light up the world with God in silence” could show all of us the right road to follow giving love to others around the world. It feels good to be around people who are open to changing their life. I love helping those in need on the street. When we see them we give money and food. We also help feed the pets around them. This is the very generous and of the least in money and time.  Practice embracing all people in our claim to doing God’s will. I always try to see Him in others. I reflect on this chapter in John 1: 38. “You are in my prayers always and the poor we serve should be prayed for.” We pray in silence for them and others.  We pray for all we encounter in need of help, and especially for Vincentian youth and our family.

Struggling with Temptation

Pope Francis encourages us to recall during this Lenten season that our salvation lies in God alone. We can take comfort in the fact that Jesus himself was tempted by evil things. Seeing His battle with His adversary in more human and less cosmic terms can help us when we’re struggling with temptation.  We can then turn to Scripture. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) As we gather to pray with our Vincentian family we continue to reach out to others to ask for prayers as we face our struggles.  – from The Hope of Lent.  We are not alone.  We are with temptation often.  Sometimes we feel worn out. This is the time to turn to God and to renew Holy Scripture.  Be not afraid God is with us always and He is with the poor on our behalf. Temptation is with us and we must pray and fast to make our road as Vincentians as smooth as can be, with God’s help.  We know there will be temptation and we must not find it in us but pray every day.  Let these blessings carry your through the day.

Indebted to God

God of life, we are grateful for the many gifts that you have given to us. May we become prudent stewards of your many gifts and not thoughtlessly waste water, food, and other resources. May we respond to your Son’s cry of thirst with lives of peacemaking and just action. We make His prayer in your name. Amen. – from The Last Words of Jesus. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, and our dear Mother in Heaven, please pray for us. Please help our world! We are comforted knowing that your Immaculate Heart will triumph. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?” (Matthew 5:13) We use our Scripture and prayer to help us know the poor better and to pray more for them. We pray together as Vincentians for those we serve and we invite others to come and pray.  This will renew us.  The poor Jesus gave us and what we learn comes from God and we should be indebted.  I encourage you to reflect and know why you were called. “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke: 20. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15)

“Happiness is a Choice…

…not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.” – “Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?’” (Luke 7:44) Not one person condemns the woman “Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’” (John 8:10) “What are we looking for?” (John 1:38) John has the answer. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15) “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:16) Pray for smiles each day and may the happiness spread to others who are truly poor. Share your smiles it is the best gift to all in need and to our Vincentian brothers and sister.  If permission is grant and hug is a great gift.  It lifts the burdens of you and others. Hugs and smiles are great recovery tools for you and for those you serve.

Blessings,
Lynn