Fight War With Love This Lent

 

“You shall not stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake.” –Leviticus 19:16.

It was chilling to hear this Scripture being read at Mass on Monday, with so many people in need of our prayers and help in Ukraine. (It’s important to note that this wasn’t read because of the war. The schedule of Scriptures used for Catholic Masses was set more than 50 years ago, after Vatican II.)

We also heard from Matthew’s Gospel. Here are parts of the passage:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory… all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another… the sheep from the goats…” --Matthew 25:31-32

The word ‘nations’ jumped out at me like never before.  Also:

“…whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for me.” –Matthew 25:40

 This Lent, let’s fight war with love and offer our prayers and sacrifices for the people of Ukraine. Just as Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people when a boy humbly offered Him five loaves of bread and a few fish, so He can still work miracles in today’s world when we offer Him our prayers, fasting, and almsgiving for someone else’s benefit.

Remember, Lent is less about what we do and more about what God does with, for, and through us. Lent is not about performing self-serving acts of self-discipline. Rather, these weeks give us opportunities to let God pour His love into us so that we can love each other better. Our seemingly humble Lenten offerings become holy when He uses them to help others, and we are made holy by offering them.

We may be tempted to think, “I can’t give much, and I’m not one who spends hours in prayer; God can’t possibly do anything with what I have.”  Imagine if that boy had not offered his bread and fish to Jesus. Let’s remember that the amount of material goods we give, the amount of time in prayer we spend, and the kinds of sacrifices we make are not important. What matters is that we do and give everything with love.

Let’s remember, too, the immense power of intercessory prayer, proven when Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the unfaithful people:

“So the Lord changed his mind about the harm which he had threatened to do to his people.” –Exodus 32:14

Let’s pray for an end to war. Let’s love with our hearts and hands. Let’s ask God to take every instance of our self-denial and every donation of our time, our talents, our money or other items and use them, with His power, to help the people of Ukraine.

“Lord, accept our loving sacrifices. Save the people of Ukraine.”

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