We’re meant to hear that at the very heart of God’s humanity-rescuing project is not Jesus’ doing something, but his being something.

Whatever you do, do for God. Don’t do it because you’re tough and can handle more; don’t do it to be bolder than someone else; don’t do it so you can tell others about it; and don’t do it because it benefits you in some other way. Do it, whatever it is, because you love and trust God. The reward will be beyond your imagining.

A big part of Lent’s power is that we make this 40-day trek together, so I’m asking you to commit to taking on – with all of us, your fellow parishioners – the following three life-changing and love-enabling disciplines:

1. Pray for 30 minutes a day

2. Fast every day except for Sundays and Solemnities

3. Give a true tithe (10% to the parish)

This portion of Jesus’ preaching presents us with the challenge and the consolation of Jesus’ vision.

Check out our mission statement again to see whether or not we're living for God's purposes: In prayer and sacrament God enkindles our hearts that might bring the fire of his love to everyone we encounter.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

As the Body of Christ, we bring God’s love to life in and for Boonton and beyond.

Even when a prayerful review of our day reveals our failures, that revelation is always hopeful and encouraging: The same God who allows us to see our shortcomings also gives us the strength to overcome them!

Jesus' life of prayer is of a piece with his ministry to others. Just so, our life of prayer must be of a piece with our day-to-day life.