REFLECT
We're almost a week into the Lenten season and by now, most of us have decided what we are going to give up for Lent. Some of the more popular sacrifices during this time include giving up sweets, social media, televsion, alcohol, and coffee. I can relate, for the past ten years or so, one of my sacrifices has been to give up sweets. As a sugar addict, it's a tough forty days without the sweet stuff.

However, this year I did not chose to give up sweets. On Ash Wednesday, I asked myself a few honest questions during prayer: Is giving up sweets changing me? Am I becoming a better disciple of Christ by giving up sweets? Is this sacrifice bringing me closer to him? The answers were, "no." So I dug a little deeper. What are some actions I do that separate me from Christ? What do I habitually do that I need to change? What arose to the surface in prayer was one word - judgement. 

Admittedly, I judge others and judgment can lead one down many roads that do not bear the name, "Christian." Therefore it seemed fitting to give up judging others for Lent. In today's first reading from Leviticus, God says to Moses,

 "You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.
Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,
but judge your fellow men justly.
You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;
nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake.
I am the LORD.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove him,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”

Sounds easy, right? Just be nice! Well, so far, I've failed miserably, catching myself making judgments of others in my own thoughts or during conversations with others. But with the Lord, there is an abundance of mercy and through his mercy and forgiveness, the strength of the sacraments, and the perseverence and power of prayer, I am hopeful that by Easter, my heart and mind may be more conformed to Jesus. And truly, that is the point of Lent, to experience conversion in order to be more like Christ.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus thank you for your love, mercy, and forgiveness. Help me, in my weakness, to be more like you, especially to my enemies and those who I find to be difficult. Give me eyes to see the good in others. May I see your reflection in each person I encounter. Amen.

ACTION
Seek the sacrament of Holy Eucharist as much as possible during Lent. The Eucharist is our spiritual food!