Sixty-two years ago, I, along with tens of thousands of young adults, responded to the invitation of President John F. Kennedy who in a speech said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Chile to help a country that had been devastated by an earthquake.
As we enter our Second week of Lent some of us may still be thinking about how best to respond to the invitation that Lent makes of us to fast, pray, and give alms. In the Scriptures today God may be inviting some of us to ask God not what He can do for us, but instead, what we can do for Him.
God needs our help to carry out his mission to ensure peace and spiritual prosperity for all. He is telling us today how we can help ourselves and others grow in grace, compassion, kindness, and love for one another.
He is cautioning us to be suspect of those who do not practice what they preach. Through his prophet Isaiah, God asks us to seek justice by reaching out to orphans and widows, the most vulnerable members of our society.
It is a never-ending need, and how blest we are to have so many among our contemporaries who are reaching out and assisting those in need. I wonder if they see themselves as helping God build up his kingdom here on earth.
Because of the lockdown and isolation caused by the pandemic I suspect that many of us could acknowledge that it has been difficult to feel upbeat this Lent. What would it take for us to feel better about our circumstances, our relationships, ourselves?
Ask God where you could put you hand to the plow.
What can we be doing this Lent to assist God bring about his Kingdom of justice, peace, and equality for all?
It may be a humbling experience but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
