The Fig Tree gets a second chance, but

We might pause along the journey of Lent to see if we are in fact changing our habits through our fasting, praying and alms-giving. On Ash Wednesday we received ashes as we heard "Turn away from sin, be faithful to the gospel." And our parish mission is trying to get us to munch on "spiritual carrots." Is it helping our vision? The transfigured body of Christ that we recently heard proclaimed was a foretaste of his risen glory. Our engagement in fasting is a participation in the freedom promised us at baptism. God's gifts are good but too often these good are made by us into obsessions that rule and dominate our lives. We are often ruled by the desires fueled within us by images of food and drink served up by TV, radio and magazines. Fasting is an exercise of freedom. It is a death to what we want in order to discover our deepest and truest needs. At the center we discover the glory of Christ, who strengthens us in all our dyings. What one thing do you think will stick?

Deacon Bill Holy Spirit Ripples