"If you are willing and obey"

Today's readings: Isaiah 1:10,16-20; Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 23:1-12

How has your Lent been going?  Have you struggled with keeping your sacrifices? Have you had to start over yet with your Lenten penance? The Gospel today reminds us that we need to make sure that we are not doing things just to do them, or to get some type of recognition…but that our actions need to be done to change our heart.  He tells us to listen to the commands and law of the Pharisees, but don’t follow their example.

That brings up a great challenge.  Are you the type of person that is a great example?  Should people not look at your actions when they are learning how to be a Christian?  People are going to pay attention to us…whether we are a good example or bad example.  We must be people of integrity!  Our actions represent who we are.  Do your actions show that you are a Christian on this journey, or are you a false representation of our calling to love?

I think that is what our Lenten penance is there to help us with.  To remind us how to focus on something greater!  So, when we start to waver on continuing these actions we must find the strength to stand back up, get support to carry on, and live in the grace we are given to start anew.

Isaiah gives us hope today that when we seek the Lord in our weakness and suffering, that it can become something beautiful.

Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be crimson red,

they may become white as wool.

If you are willing, and obey,

you shall eat the good things of the land;

But if you refuse and resist,

the sword shall consume you:

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

(Isaiah 1:18-20)

Yes!
 
But, we have to be willing!

I think it is awesome that God understands our humanness.  He says that although we have sinned, they can become something amazing.  But, it requires a choice of ours.  We have to give those to him. 

I think it again points to the actions/sacrifices we have chosen to take on this Lent.  In allowing ourselves to suffer a little, to offer these up to God, we practice letting God in our hearts.  There are times we may give in to the temptations, but it then requires a new choice…the choice to begin again.

Look into your heart…have you been letting Christ in more as you continue to offer up sacrifices for him?  Are you being joyful while doing penance?  We all fall at some point, but it is how we react that shows the world, ourselves and God our true desires.

As Lent continues, I encourage you (and myself) to look inward.  We need to remember WHY we chose these changes during Lent.  We need to make sure that they are rightly aimed…that it is to help us to live a Christian life.  In taking time to remember why we chose the penance this Lent, to turn to God and ask for the grace to continue, we will become renewed in our strength and the sacrifices we are making will hopefully become easier.