ABSTINENCE: MEAT OR SIN
Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 50; 2Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Repentance, fasting, and preparation are all mentioned in today’s readings. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are required of us if we are to be saved and experience the glory of the resurrection.
According to the gospel, we are instructed to carry out our duties in silence and without bringing attention to ourselves because doing otherwise is meaningless in God’s eyes. How can we justify the numerous giveaways on social media? How about the donations made in churches?
Many individuals abstain from different items during Lent, such as meat and beer, but the things we are urged to abstain from in the readings have a far bigger influence on others as well as ourselves. We are to abstain from sin and hypocrisy.
LET US PRAY
Support us, Lord, as with this Lenten fast we begin our Christian warfare, so that in doing battle against the spirit of evil we may be armed with the weapon of self-denial. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
