Febuary 25th

February 25, 2023
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Mrs. Priyanka Aduri: Science Teacher
Readings: Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32 (222)
During this Lenten journey, we are invited to look at our world, and our lives from
a different perspective; to refocus our gaze so as to encourage new life. 
In the Word of God from the prophet Isaiah, we find our invitation wonderfully
written.  Here is what a difference it will make if you make the effort to remove
oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech, but “bestow your bread” and
satisfy the afflicted.  Isaiah's expression is similar to the teachings of Jesus in the
Sermon on the Mount. Another invitation towards the end of this reading invites us
to look at the way we spend our time on the Lord’s Day, the Sabbath.  “If you
honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with
malice…” then you are doing God’s will. Can we even imagine restructuring that
day, to include more time we spend with the Lord?  Can we consider accepting this
invitation for this Lenten Season?  After Mass on Sundays for me, my day doesn’t
usually look any different than the day before it.  I have found myself thinking
about not doing manual labor, like mowing my lawn or going to work if I’m really
behind.  But, the truth is, that I’ve only considered it and not always followed that
consideration.  Maybe we could try it one Sunday and see how it feels.  It could be
like being on a one-day retreat each week, where we’d direct our attention towards
the Lord and see what He would have us do. 
This is the Lord’s invitation and promise found in today’s readings in the book of
the prophet Isaiah.   Homeless shelters usually need volunteers to help serve meals,
and of course, there is always a need to make donations of money to countless
organizations that serve the poor. The promise the Lord makes is that we will have
our strength renewed, and we will be like a watered garden; “I will make you ride
on the heights of the earth” if you will accept this invitation to look at this world
from a different perspective.  Looking at our world from this perspective will take
the focus off our own lives and when I did that over the Christmas season, I found
great joy in participating in a few programs that reached out to those with fewer
resources than me.  Now when I look at the postcard I received from one of those
programs, the smile on the face of a youngster in a faraway land, my face smiles
back and I feel grateful to my God who gently invited me to share my gifts with
others. During this Lent, we are called by the Church to do likewise. To evaluate
how we relate with the Lord and others and use our resources to put smiles on the
face of those who have nothing, especially the poorest of the poor.