Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Scripture readings this weekend highlight for us the sometimes confusing truth that God raises up the humble and lowly. The prophet Zephaniah calls us to seek God in humility, while the Psalm reminds us that God cares for those who by social status or physical ailment might be left to fend for themselves. St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were not chosen because of their high social standing, personal ability, or accumulated wealth. Rather, as Jesus illustrates in the Beatitudes we read in the Gospel, it is poverty of spirit, purity of heart, and humility that gain for us the Kingdom of Heaven. How can we, in the face of a world that tells us to look out for number one and seek our own pleasure, gain, and position, seek the Lord with humility?

There are countless ways for us to cultivate the virtue of humility, and the Church recognizes that, while there is perpetually a need to grow in virtue, we are helped in that growth by dedicated and directed seasons. In just over two weeks, we will begin the season of Lent, a 40-day training camp in virtue. Through the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we can learn to rely on ourselves less, and on God more. These disciplines remind us that our own abilities and resources will carry us only so far; in our weakness, we need God to take us the rest of the way.

Before Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18), I would like to recommend that we all make a plan for how we will engage in the three pillars of Lent. Fasting can be hard, but it is very much worthwhile, especially when we engage in fasting at its most basic level: from food. Don’t be afraid to go without a particular food, to plan smaller meals, or to even forego a meal here or there and to see in your physical hunger a reflection of your soul’s hunger for God. Almsgiving can feel like an easy task, as simple as writing a check or clicking the “donate” button. But the Lenten discipline of almsgiving suggests we do something harder: give directly to the poor. Maybe that means something handed to the homeless man you pass as you leave the train station, or personally delivering food to a homeless shelter, remembering that whatever we do for the least of our brethren, we do for Christ.

Of the Lenten disciplines, prayer often seems to be the simplest, and yet simultaneously the practice we are most averse to engaging. To pray means to admit that there is something I cannot do for myself or others, that I stand in need of God’s grace and mercy, and that my own strength is not enough. Prayer makes us humble. During Lent, many people like to attend Mass more frequently during the week. The Adoration Chapel might be a place you should make a point to visit more often during Lent, finding in our Eucharistic Lord the one who hears your needs and knows your heart most perfectly. As a parish community, we are able to make use of the Hallow app’s Lenten challenge (https://www.st-pius.org/hallow/) and I encourage you to join our community in the most popular prayer and meditation app. Finally, as I have in the past, I would like to warmly recommend the practice of praying the rosary with your family. For the forty days of Lent, turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary together, for our Lady’s heart is always perfectly attuned to the heart of her Son and she never fails to point us closer to Him.

Lent is coming soon, and now is the perfect time to get ready. The Scripture we read at Mass this weekend challenges us to greater humility of heart. Lent provides us with the training ground we need to truly grow in this essential virtue and open our hearts more to the graces God desires us to receive.

Peace,

Fr. Sam