[Jesus said,] “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35. When I was growing up there was a great emphasis on giving up something for Lent – getting rid of some habit which has no spiritual benefit for ones life. This was to be seen as making a sacrifice or bearing a cross during the season of Lent. I have come to believe that, in Lent, it is more important to give something to God, to others and that something is love! Each day let us plan to show caring love for someone during the season of Lent.

“And let us consider how to [stir up] one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” Hebrews 10:24-25a. One of the great gifts of baptism is that we become sons and daughters of God. This means that we become a part of a family. Jesus taught us to pray not “my” but “Our Father.” This means that we can never be Christians alone.

“There was a rich man… And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus… who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table…” Luke 16:19-21. There are a lot of “needy people” out there. Sometimes we perceive them as mere annoyances. Often we live in a state of denial and ignore them. We all have more than one Lazarus to deal with but Lent challenges us to recognize Lazarus in those we meet, live and work with on a daily basis.