Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 7, 7-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”
Called to change
1. Process. During Lent, you’re called to change. Stop being the same old capricious person. You can’t keep justifying your actions saying, “that’s the way I am”. You must change something, at least make an effort and try. But change is a process, everything takes its time. For example, if I want to make a barbecue, I have to buy the charcoal, the meat, and everything else I need. I salt the meat and add some lemon juice as well, but I must wait for the fire be ready and then wait a while before I put the meat on the grill over the coal embers, at least that’s the way we make a good barbecue in Argentina! And it comes out tastier if you leave it on low heat. When you cook too quickly the meat looks as if it’s done but it’s raw inside. Well, it’s the same with your life, you might have to change many aspects and make a big turn in your life, but the key is the time it takes for you to change. If you try to make all the changes abruptly, you will end up like meat burnt on the outside and raw on the inside, and the change won’t be permanent.
2. Experiencing situations. We all go through situations in life that make it harder for us to change. Again, it’s a process. First, when faced with a situation, you can fall, feel hurt and beaten, thinking that it is someone else’s fault. Second, when facing a situation that strikes you and hurts, you “pretend” not to see it, and say that it’s not your fault again. Thirdly, you may fall back into it because it’s a “habit” but, this time your eyes are wide open, you know it’s your responsibility and you immediately get out of this situation. The fourth stage is not to fall into it. Finally, the fifth stage is to take another way in life without even having to meet or face that situation. That’s the process, first you fall and hurt yourself in a situation, but sooner or later, when faced with similar circumstances, you do things differently, knowing that you can avoid that and walk through your life another way, but everything takes its time. There’s always a way out of everything.
3. Be good. Act honestly, be prudent and learn to shut your mouth and bite your tongue. Don’t let listlessness and lack of effort lead you to fall into the pit of routine. You have a lot to give. God has chosen you the way you are, but He also invites you to change and help others to change.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
