Have you had a good Lent so far? If your values, treasures, and life-style were changed by the Lord, then you've had a great Lent. Where your treasure is, there is your heart (Mt 6:21). If your heart is right with God, you are living for the Lord. Only God can change our values. They become quickly entrenched, and we even build a whole lifestyle around them. Only Love can change our lives. Only the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ can surpass a selfish lifestyle.
Lent can be the time when we let the true God destroy and dethrone the false gods of our modern lifestyle. Lent can be our engagement with the risen Lord so as to disengage us from our homage to the world. It can be the time of attachment to Jesus and detachment from the world. If we let the Lord have His way, our fascination with the gods of this world will be "snuffed out and quenched like a wick," "never to rise" (Is 43:17).
This Lent we can make a clean break with the world, forfeit everything, and account all else rubbish so that Christ can be our wealth (Phil 3:8). This "comes through faith in Christ" (Phil 3:9). "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
| PRAYER: | Lord, this Lent set me free, whatever it takes. |
| PROMISE: | "Nor do I condemn you. You may go. But from now on, avoid this sin." –Jn 8:11 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, Victor over sin and death, our Rock and our Salvation. Glory to Jesus, "King of kings"! (Rv 19:16) |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College