Reflection
We began our Lenten journey with a summons: “Return to me with your whole heart.” (Ash Wednesday reading, Joel 2:12) Because he is a prophet, Joel is emphasizing what is most important: what and who is in our hearts. Lent is a time for our hearts to return to love of God, our fellow humans, and all creation, in a whole-hearted way.
Today’s readings are expressions of that wholehearted and expansive love. In the first reading, the prophet Daniel does not pray for himself, but for his people who have lost their way. Daniel is not stingy with his praise nor his supplication. He is all in for God and for the people. In the Gospel for today, Jesus challenges us to mercy and forgiveness. He literally asks us to love “without measure”, to have an overflowing love.
At the beginning of Lent, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops put out a call to expand our hearts by more clearly hearing the cry of the poor and the cry of Earth. (Full text here.) They said “we must each make daily choices that reflect our conversion to better care for God’s creation and the people, communities, and livelihoods that are interconnected.” The bishops gave a list of these choices; and here are a few of them:
- “Families and individuals can purchase products from companies that prioritize care for creation and consider renewable energy sources for their homes.
- Business leaders can work to increase sustainability and ensure justice towards workers and communities in the areas surrounding their operations.
- Parishes can create opportunities for prayer in nature, offer pilgrimages, and celebrate a Mass to care for creation.
- Religious communities can share with others their successes in utilizing socially responsible investing practices, which work to align investments with the values of Catholic social teaching, including care for creation.”
This Lent we pray for the grace of wholeheartedness, for an open, caring, and expensive heart that embraces God, our fellow humans and all creation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Sacred Heart, whose embrace tenderly holds all life.
