Good and good

March 16, 2025 at 12:05 a.m.
Pixabay image
Pixabay image

By Jim Murray, Fiat Ventures

Second Sunday in Lent

Ok, the fun part’s over. Time to buckle down, grit your teeth and settle into your Lenten commitments. I find that the first few days of Lent are pretty easy. The Lenten sacrifices are still new, and I feel excited that they will help form me into a better person and a better disciple, one more capable of experiencing true Joy and able to do the will of God more effectively in my life. That feeling lasts about a few days. Then the grind sets in and I realize just how far it is to Easter.

Our readings this Sunday, especially our second reading from Philippians, remind us that ultimately, we are not citizens of the United States, or whichever country we live in, but are in fact, as baptized Christians, citizens of Heaven. As such, our earthly existence is not static. We are travelers, or pilgrims on a journey, and the destination is Heaven, our true Home. The first reading talks about Abram, “Our Father in Faith” trusting himself and his future to God. God promises him not only a homeland, but descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. We are the descendants of Abram’s (eventually Abraham’s) faith in God’s promise. We too must learn to trust in God, and as pilgrims on the journey of life, we must reorient our hearts to yearn for our ultimate destination, our final and eternal homeland.

I think that is what Lent is about. It is about making sure that our internal spiritual compass points to the True North, to our ultimate goal, and does not become fixated on the things of this world, the passing goods that bring only fleeting happiness. For, while there are many goods that we can and should enjoy in this life, if they take the place of God, the ultimate Good, then they need to be put back into their rightful place. So take courage, as the Lenten sacrifices start to become more difficult, rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give you the grace to say no to the lesser good of this world and to say yes to the ultimate Good of a life spent in eternity with God.



Related Stories

Second Sunday in Lent

Ok, the fun part’s over. Time to buckle down, grit your teeth and settle into your Lenten commitments. I find that the first few days of Lent are pretty easy. The Lenten sacrifices are still new, and I feel excited that they will help form me into a better person and a better disciple, one more capable of experiencing true Joy and able to do the will of God more effectively in my life. That feeling lasts about a few days. Then the grind sets in and I realize just how far it is to Easter.

Our readings this Sunday, especially our second reading from Philippians, remind us that ultimately, we are not citizens of the United States, or whichever country we live in, but are in fact, as baptized Christians, citizens of Heaven. As such, our earthly existence is not static. We are travelers, or pilgrims on a journey, and the destination is Heaven, our true Home. The first reading talks about Abram, “Our Father in Faith” trusting himself and his future to God. God promises him not only a homeland, but descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. We are the descendants of Abram’s (eventually Abraham’s) faith in God’s promise. We too must learn to trust in God, and as pilgrims on the journey of life, we must reorient our hearts to yearn for our ultimate destination, our final and eternal homeland.

I think that is what Lent is about. It is about making sure that our internal spiritual compass points to the True North, to our ultimate goal, and does not become fixated on the things of this world, the passing goods that bring only fleeting happiness. For, while there are many goods that we can and should enjoy in this life, if they take the place of God, the ultimate Good, then they need to be put back into their rightful place. So take courage, as the Lenten sacrifices start to become more difficult, rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give you the grace to say no to the lesser good of this world and to say yes to the ultimate Good of a life spent in eternity with God.


Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


In Local News as of March 17, 2025
The following parishes, schools and organizations in the Diocese of Trenton have announced these upcoming events:

Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalization
For the first time since Pope Francis was hospitalized in mid-February...

El Vaticano publica la primera foto del Papa Francisco desde su hospitalización
Por primera vez desde que el Papa Francisco fue hospitalizado...

Making a both/and choice when it comes to faith and sports
Choosing between our children’s athletic activities and faith practices...

Hacer una elección entre ambos cuando se trata de fe y deportes
Elegir entre las actividades deportivas de nuestros hijos ...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2025 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.