I noticed our receptionist was changing the water in a small glass container that appeared to have a floating flower in it. I told her the flower was beautiful, but she added that it also contained a goldfish. It was a birthday gift. She said the old water had become stale and soiled, and that new water would provide new life for her fish.
Lent provides us with the opportunity to remove the old from these our earthen vessels and fill them with God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Like Daniel we are being invited today to come before God and ask his help to be emptied of the stale water of sin and make room for God’s grace to enter. But Jesus added something else. To the extent that we accomplish these attitudes or beatitudes be assured that they in turn we will be gifted back to us by Him in equal measure (Luke 6:38b).
As families gather to pray today, especially families with young children, consider the example of changing the water in the goldfish bowl so that the fish can breathe and live. Decide what if anything a family might change this Lent to help the family better prepare to celebrate Easter.
God, teach us to discipline our bodies so that our souls might be healed.
