JMJ

Dear Family,

I pray that this Ash Wednesday is the first of many to grow in holiness through prayer, fasting and almsgiving for all of us! Today’s Gospel reading is one of my all-time favorites.

<bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?1> Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Below is the link to the Zoom information for Mass tomorrow at 9:10.
us04web.zoom.us/j/76954430501?pwd=T2ExZFYwL1NTUGdIRFJ5RlcwMXBjQT09

Meeting ID: 769 5443 0501
Passcode: Lent

I’d also like to congratulate our two raffle winners today! Jim and Sue Aird won a $100.00 Visa gift card for selling their raffle tickets and Russell Sexton won $500.00 in our first Early Bird drawing for the 50th Anniversary Cash Raffle! Our next Early Bird drawing will be in March. Thank you for your support and for selling these tickets!

There are no new COVID cases to report today.

Have a Blessed Lent,

Joe