Dear Powers,

Thank you for joining us for this Lenten journey and welcome to #HappyLent2023: Carrying our cross. We are blessed to share this time of prayer and reflection with you and our whole GCCS community. We'll be praying with you.

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.”

Today's reflection from

Mark Callahan

Executive Director, Genesee County Catholic Schools

PCHS Class of 2005

St, Mary (Mt. Morris) Class of 2001

Christ teaches us today the meaning of one's intention and how we should approach our daily interactions. Too many times, there are moments where an action or deed is done to illustrate that we have in fact done something great or highlight that we have in fact checked a box. We post pictures of voting, scream from mountaintops when we complete our taxes, or showcase other great actions and accomplishments. Unfortunately, at times checkboxes in our faith life include almsgiving, prayer, and the sacrifices made to unite oneself with Christ.

The good news is Christ gives us the path to give with pure intention, to sacrifice with pure of heart, to pray with a pure mindset.



• When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret.
• When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
• 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.

Is it always easy to have no alternative motive? Absolutely not. It is human nature to want to scream from mountain tops the great achievements we have, the wondrous deeds we do. It is important to reflect on the intention of WHY we are doing something. If it is solely to bring attention or to draw eyes towards oneself, then that places the intention not on what God desires, but our human desires. Thus, let us as we venture through Lent make a conscious effort to unite our intentions with those that Christ desires for us. For when we do his will and not our own, we are pleasing him and making our world a better place to be.

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