LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF HOPE DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON

Prof./Evangel. Michael P. Howard, MACS

The First Sunday of Lent

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, One does not live on bread alone."(Lk. 4:1-13)

In these troubling times, a prophetic voice instills hope in a country that resembles a ball of confusion. Fortunately, we only have to listen to Pope Francis' call for signs of hope in the [2025] Jubilee Year, to calm the chaos reported daily through trauma news media. Before the national election in November 2024, Pope Francis followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit to direct the Catholic Church to look for signs of hope that do not disappoint you because of the love of Jesus Christ poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:1-5). In 2025, bombarded with countless executive orders, many seek security in a misguided government. We need a prophetic voice that speaks hope in this land of disharmony.

During this Lenten Season, my Brother-in-love, Fr. Charles Wood, and I will peer into Pope Francis' document for Jubilee 2025, May Hope Fill Your Heart. We pray that in these turbulent times, our words will fill your heart with hope since many are experiencing grief because of the loss of jobs. Others are fearful that food prices will skyrocket, causing more people to have less food on their plates. We need to abide in God more now than ever. While Jesus was fasting for forty days, I believe he hoped God would be with Him. Please look at what Pope Francis said about hope for those who are hungry.  

Pope Francis said, "the Jubilee reminds us that the goods of the earth are not destined for a privileged few, but for everyone. The rich must be generous and not avert their eyes from the faces of their brothers and sisters in need. Here, I think especially of those who lack water and food: hunger is a scandal, an open wound on the body of our humanity, and it summons all of us to a serious examination of conscience." (Article 16)

I invite you to have a serious examination of conscience with me. Do you contribute mentally and physically to helping God's children receive the earth's goods? Do you look into the eyes of our brothers and sisters with compassion who are in need? Do you mercifully look at those wounded by hunger and pain with Christ-like eyes? Do you extend mercy and compassion? Do you pick what you think will satisfy the appetite of people in need or give them the freedom to choose their bread?

As a community, we often fall short of helping others who are underprivileged. We presume that we know what people who are hungry need. Satan told Jesus to prove himself by turning stones into bread. That was a mistake on Satan's part, presuming that Jesus was hungry and that perhaps bread would satisfy Him. Jesus told Satan, "It is written, One does not live on bread alone." In other words, Jesus did not need bread; he desired fellowship with His Heavenly Father. Jesus wanted to abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

In Psalm 91:1, the Psalmist said, "You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress." Many of us know what it means to abide, to dwell within the shadow of the Almighty, but can we do a better job of reaching out to those who are hungry? For someone hoping for a meal this week, can we extend ourselves to dismantle the scandalous behavior of our world, giving stones and not bread? There is no good reason why people are hungry in our world! Don't accept a handout from Satan. God will give you what you need and more for those hungry. Walk in hope.

But if you just believe there's no way we can fall

No, no, no, just realize

Oh, that a change can only come

When we stand together as one, oh

We are the world (we are the world)

We are the children (we are the children)

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving (let's start giving)."

We are the world

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