Lenten Moments of Mercy: Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Thursday of the First Week of Lent   Take time during Lent to discern God’s dream for you.

Scripture “Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?” Matthew 7:9   Reflection A young man was discussing with his parents what he planned to do with his life. He mapped out a number of career paths to his parents. After he finished his father said, “We support you in following your dreams. But have you ever considered giving your life to Jesus Christ in a religious vocation?” The young man burst into tears; he had a religious vocation in his heart, but he was afraid to mention it. One week later he entered a Catholic community of brothers. All who are parents or mentors for young people have dreams for them. They usually revolve around the hope that they would lead better lives than we did. All of these dreams can be good and have the potential to help them flourish as individuals and contribute to their communities. But these dreams can be like giving stones instead of bread if they are done without discernment, that is, if they are not considered in the light of God’s will. All of us are called to live holy lives in whatever vocation we follow, whether that is religious life, matrimony and parenthood, or the single life. We can best help others by helping them discern what God’s dream for them is. Pope Francis tells us that God is always generous, giving more and more: “Perhaps in prayer we ask for this and that, and He always gives us more! Always, always more.” Our greatest contribution to others is to help them discern what this “more” is.

Pope Francis “Jesus is the companion on the journey who gives us what we ask; the Father who cares for us and loves us; and the Holy Spirit who is the gift, is that ‘more’ that the Father gives, for which our conscience does not dare to hope.” Morning Meditation, 9 October 2014   Lenten Action ► Explore your diocesan vocation pages to familiarize yourself with the opportunities for serving God. ► Learn about discernment with the article “Discernment in a Nutshell” by Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ.    Prayer Fulfill your purpose in me, O Lord, with your steadfast love which endures forever.

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