Tag: almsgiving

Prayer is Boring

I once heard that prayer is boring because you didn’t make it about Jesus and you didn’t make it about others. After I heard that, I immediately realized how selfish I’ve been with my prayers and that’s one of the reasons why it was getting ‘boring’. Lent can also be understood in the same light because in essence, all that we do during lent should be a prayer, because prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to lift our heart and mind to God. However, if we make lent about ourselves then it will be boring, disengaging, and will seem like a chore. In order for the season of Lent (and every season with the Lord) to be fruitful and  not boring, it has to be about Jesus and it has to be about others.

Here are a few things I need to remind myself of during lent:

1. Make Jesus the centre of your prayer. 

Begin with Jesus in mind and heart and not other things. Have a dialogue with Him and not a monologue with yourself. Speak to Him, listen to Him, and let Him have the first and last say. Spend time with Him as much as possible, especially literally in front of Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Encounter Him in the scriptures, family, friends, in every task, and most especially in Mass.

2. Remember the poor when fasting

Don’t make fasting about yourself. Don’t let it point your affections whether they be joy or suffering to yourself but let it be a reminder to suffer with the millions of poor people around the world. Let fasting be an opportunity to grow in your ability to be compassionate, in other words, to suffer with those who are suffering. Don’t eat that candy simply because you said you gave it up, but because you truly want to experience even the slightest mortification that is nothing compared to the suffering of those in great destitution.

3. Give alms to have a change of heart

Be generous with your time, talent, and treasure. Give concretely. Give until it hurts, then let that hurt purify and change your heart to become more like Jesus’ heart. Give because others truly need what you have to offer even if it’s as little as 25 cents. God doesn’t see what or how much you’re giving. He sees the heart. He sees if we are giving our heart. That’s why it has to hurt.

It’s really amazing how time flies in prayer when I’ve truly made it about Jesus and others. I would actually find that there’s not enough time to pray!

We have nothing to worry about for ourselves if we are putting Jesus and His kingdom first. His kingdom belongs to the poor and the meek, so the more we associate ourselves with them and prefer them, the closer we will be to the kingdom of Heaven.

A Spiritual Balance

“(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

I still can’t get over with the homily last Wednesday. It was from Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18. It was a gospel about the proper posture in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. At first I thought this is just a guide how I can execute it better if ever I choose to do any of it.

 As I continue on reflecting and asking God what else in the gospel that He wants me to live out, He brought a different way of understanding the three. I believe He is telling me that in order for me to stay close to Him, prayer is not enough. There has to be a balance of the the 3 – almsgiving, prayer and fasting. That my lifestyle at all times will revolve around the 3- to give cheerfully, pray faithfully, and fast regularly.

Personally praying at all times is given, it’s a must. However my view on fasting and almsgiving is different, I still see it as an option and can be done only on when I want to. The Lord is telling me to do all of these at all times. I believe that the best way to feed my spiritual life is by living out the three.

“Lord you are God and in you all things are created. You made us in your image and likeness. Teach us to live our lives like your Son Jesus – He practiced almsgiving, prayer and fasting. May I be able to do the same. Lord may all three be my lifestyle as I continue on growing in the spirit. May I cheerfully, faithfully and regularly do it.“

Candy

Philippians 1:29