This Lenten season, please pray with us by reading the daily reflections written by the Sisters, faculty, and students of Mount Carmel Academy.

Love, Sister Camille Anne and Ms. Simno

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Lenten Reflection: February 26

Matthew 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."

Reflection by Fr. Paul Clark, MCA Chaplain

On Ash Wednesday, with blessed ashes on our foreheads, we are invited to bring that strange and beautiful blessing into every part of the world. It is a blessing for us to put before our minds that our true home is in heaven. Here, it's just dust. In the Sacred Liturgy on Ash Wednesday, our Blessed Lord teaches us how to bring that blessing into the world and how to invest in our true home through the spiritual currencies of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.

"When you give alms…your Father who sees in secret will repay you…When you pray…your Father who sees in secret will repay you…When you fast…your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you" (Mt 6:1–6, 16–18). God's repayment for our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting continues a theme from the Old Testament.

Proverbs 19 says, "Whoever cares for the poor lends to the Lord, who will pay back the sum in full" (19:17). In the Book of Tobit, St. Raphael the Archangel says to Tobit and Tobias, "Prayer with fasting is good…It is better to give alms than to store up gold, for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life" (12:8-9).

We bring the blessing of a full life into the world, even in what may feel like an ash smudge, by praying for our enemies, fasting to end sin, and giving alms to those in need. These actions purge sin because we renounce any claim to earthly treasures and make an investment in that which will make us truly rich. Through almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, we make a deposit of our hearts in the bank of Christ's heart. So we embrace the humiliation of the Cross taking it with us on Ash Wednesday and throughout our Lenten pilgrimage that the victory of our Lord might touch every corner of the world, leading it to the blessed life of Easter and our true home in heaven.

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Lenten Reflection: February 27

Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?"

Reflection by Jennifer Ely, Religion Teacher

Here we are, at the second day of Lent again. We've gone all the way around the calendar to find ourselves here again. Yesterday, at Mass on Ash Wednesday, the priest rubbed ashes on our foreheads and reminded us that we are dust, or urged us to turn from our sins. Today's Gospel is perfectly suited for such a season of repentance.

Because either nothing matters: faith, morals, truth, beauty, grace, suffering...or all of it does. 

Catholics live a "both/and" faith, meaning that we understand the necessity of both joy and suffering, fasting and feasting, having one foot in this world and one in heaven. And this is because we know we have a God, a Father, who wants us to thrive, to live a fulfilling life that molds us into the very best versions of ourselves. And how do we do this? 

"...he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

When we mirror Christ in his self-gift to the Father, we put God and our desire for heaven first. The will of God becomes our first thought in the morning, our guiding compass in decisions, and the last thing we ponder as we fall asleep at night. 

The world will often tell us that this sort of life won't make us "satisfied" or won't make us "feel good." And, to be honest, it won't always feel very "satisfying." But we don't aim to be satisfied in this world. Our anchor lies in heaven, in Christ himself who waits for us, who loves us! And so our sufferings, our joys, and all those things in between that make up the "both/and" of our Catholic faith on this earth, these are the things that shape us in the crucible of this earth, removing our impurities, until we become as pure gold which can adorn the crown of the King in heaven.

So be willing to make this Lent new. Be open to the fullness of your faith, be willing to go outside of that which is comfortable to find your greatness in the eyes of the King. And always and forever, strive for heaven, even if it's just one small step at a time.

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Lenten Reflection: February 28

Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Reflection by Vicky Stephens, 10th Grade Student

Now that the Mardi Gras season has ended and the first week of Lenten fasting has begun, it is very easy for Catholics to fall into a loss of motivation to fast. Some may even question why fasting is required. To no surprise, Jesus gives us an answer in Scripture. Jesus's disciples asked Him why do the Pharisees fast so much but His disciples did not have to. Jesus does not answer this directly but instead answers in a metaphor. He answered them saying that their time for fasting will begin when the bridegroom is "taken away" from them. Jesus tries to make two things clear to us: one is that at that time, people were associating fasting with mourning. Fasting, unfortunately, was just something people did when things were not going their way. Although this is certainly not a bad habit, God intended fasting to be for something else, which is the second thing He teaches. Jesus teaches that the Messiah has come and His coming is similar to a bridegroom to a wedding feast. 

Jesus describes Himself as the bridegroom to His people, and when He leaves His people will mourn. Jesus was telling His disciples then that they could not fast yet because the bridegroom of Israel was there with them. The long-hoped-for, the Son of God, was finally with them! Fortunately, Jesus died for our sins and the bridegroom was "gone". With His death, Jesus left us a huge responsibility, which is to mourn and fast while He is not living amongst humans.

Many people choose to fast by not eating snacks or exercising more, but maybe this Lent self-improvement is not what you need. Now that our eyes are opened to the responsibility God left for us here on earth, maybe this Lent you can sacrifice and give to God. Although Lent is about receiving less, Lent is actually a perfect opportunity to receive God's grace. Maybe you struggle with prioritizing God. Maybe you struggle with letting God guide you. Maybe you struggle with imagining that God can give you peace from the conflict in the past. Maybe you simply do not give enough time to God. Instead of scrolling through Facebook, what if you surrender yourself to Christ? What if you dive into scripture? What if you deepen your relationship with God? What if you simply thank God every day for the breath in your lungs? 

Although it seems like giving God the one thing Humans have no control over, it being time, the more time you give God the more peace you receive in your daily life.  Let yourself fall in love with God's ways and become addicted to His love for you. Let His love transform you this Lent. Let Lent be a time of mourning, but also a time of healing. The more we give God, the more he satisfies the hole in our hearts from society's pressure. How will you choose to answer God's calling of fasting this Lenten Season?

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Lenten Reflection: February 29

Luke 5: 27- 32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

Reflection by Laine Rabalais, Colleges and Careers Teacher

Imagine opening a door and you notice a long banquet table with the most gorgeous vases, filled with beautiful flowers. It is not your normal morning table or lunch table, but rather a group that you have seen as outcasts, sinners, and imperfect. Then you see at the head of the table Jesus Christ waving for you to join them. You are flawed. You are a sinner. You are an outcast. Yet, you are always welcomed to sit at the table with Jesus. Jesus wants you at this table. He is waving you down to come and sit with him. Do you take the chance or do you go back to your everyday life? 

Jesus opens the door to this banquet table daily. The menu includes forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love. Above all else, Jesus offers us to follow him and try every day no matter what we chose the day before. Jesus knows our heart wishes and knows every hair on our head. He knows our plans before we know them ourselves. At times we may feel that we aren't worthy to sit with Jesus. You may also feel that others are not worthy to do so either. Jesus does not see the flaws. He looks past them and he urges you to do the same. He urges us to put the things that cloud our vision of Him behind us. These things that keep us sinning are holding us back to saying "Yes!" to Jesus' table. 

Hopefully you can look back on this Lenten season and see that you said "Yes!" to follow Jesus and to sit with Him. 

Enjoy the desserts of His offerings!