Be a Good Steward of the Lenten Season

We talk about the three traditional pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Let’s look at how those last two can work together for our Lenten preparation. If “fasting” means “doing without” and “almsgiving” means stewardship, then our opportunities for a fruitful Lent become clearer.
   
What if when we bought an item of new clothing, we had a practice of giving away two good used items?  
 
What if when we simplify our daily diets through traditional fasting, we then increased our giving of money or food to others?  
 
What if when we decreased our spending on less essential matters, we then increased our giving to our parish, where it can be used to help our fellow parishioners, our neighbors who might need our help at this time of year?
 
All of us are blessed with a certain amount of financial or other types of resources, to be used in a prayerful and careful way as a gift from God.