Monday, March 10
Did you know that Lent provides several incredible opportunities for us? One of them is an opportunity for us to help bring the kingdom of Heaven on earth. This is done through acts of love. In the weeks prior to Lent as well as during Lent, Jesus gives us instructions on how to maximize this opportunity.
The first of these instructions was in the form of a commandment, “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34, Gospel reading, February 23, 2025). Soon after this commandment of love was given, Jesus instructed his disciples to implement the following specific acts in the name of love—to do good, to bless, to give, to forgive, and to “do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6: 27-38, Gospel reading, February 23, 2025).
In the gospel on Ash Wednesday, Jesus instructed his disciples on approaching the acts of love in doing them quietly and in humility (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18). In today’s gospel, Jesus gives specific instructions to feed, clothe, and care for our fellow brothers and sisters as an act of love. Jesus went further to explain that the acts of love performed for others becomes an act of love for Him, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 31-46).
There is a best seller book called The Five Love Languages (Chapman, 1992) where it outlines the five general ways that romantic partners express and experience love. One of the five love languages is “active service.” This particular act of love is essentially, showing love through actions rather than words. For Jesus, love is active and done in service to others. When we perform these loving acts of service as instructed by Jesus, we are partaking in the incredible opportunity of bringing the kingdom of Heaven closer to us.
How, and in what ways, can we utilize the opportunity to express Jesus’ love for our fellow brothers and sisters during this Lent and beyond? Expressing love through acts of service may come easy for some of us while it may be a bit challenging for some of us. Some specific acts of love listed in the gospels such as forgiving those who have wronged us or working in a soup kitchen may be easy while other acts are challenging. Challenging ourselves to perform an act of love that isn’t easy is what God may be calling us to do in order to bring the kingdom of Heaven on earth. Lent, after all, is fundamentally a beautiful opportunity for us to express and experience God’s love language of active service.
Lisa Fischer, PhD is a psychologist and a spiritual director based in Phoenix. She has been recently exploring and developing her artistic gift of painting.