8th Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Holiness isn't just for Lent

Depending on the year, the 8th Week of Ordinary Time sometimes falls before Lent. So every few years we would be hearing today’s readings on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. We’d be thinking of the types of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we’d be engaging in over the Lenten season. We might be removing the chocolate and the candy from our kitchens in order to remove temptation. We might be having one last punchki.

And today’s readings would be a perfect preparation for Ash Wednesday. St. Peter: calling the Church to be holy as God is holy. Calling us to listen to the prophets who “testified in advance” to the sufferings of Christ. Hearing the Lord in the Gospel calling his disciples to “give up everything” and follow Him. These readings would remind us to make sure during Lent to strive for holiness, to listen attentively and reflect often of the scriptures in the Old Testament that point to the suffering of the Messiah, and to “give up everything” that keeps us from the holiness God is calling each of us to.

Thank goodness that Lent is over and we don’t have to do any of that, right? Well, no. The call to holiness, the call to pray, fast, and give alms, isn’t just for Lent. As I’ve said before, there was an order of monks who took as the motto of their order, “Semper Quadragesima” always Lent to remind the Church, that those spiritual practices are indispensable, whether during Lent, or Easter, or Ordinary Time.

The call to holiness echoes always. It's truly universal, not just for a season, but for the whole of life. And it is up to us to respond to the invitation. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to reveal those worldly attachments we need to fast from. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to the prayer that will nourish us, particularly meditation upon the Sacred Scriptures. To allow the Holy Spirit every day to help us to be attentive to the needs of the poor and inspire us to the works of charity.

May we respond generously this day and all days to the call to holiness, the call away from self-centeredness, to the ways the Spirit wishes to bear ever-more abundant spiritual fruits in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may respond generously to the perpetual call to prayer, fasting, and works of charity.

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of May that the lay-faithful may fulfill their
specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

That protection for the unborn child may be enshrined in the laws of every nation and in every human heart.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord