Prayer is a powerful mission ministry.  In fact, Pope Benedict XVI said that he counts on the prayers and missionary commitment of children.  "In my ministry, I also count on children's prayers and their active participation in the mission of the Church," the Holy Father said.

During the week of March 14-21, 2010, children and families are invited to share the following prayer for missions around the world:

Through our Baptism, we are called to share Your love and Your peace everywhere.  We are Your ambassadors, sent to bring the "Good News" of Jesus to all, beginning in our own communities and reaching "to the ends of the earth."

Fill our hearts with the love and peace of Jesus, especially as we meet Him in the Sacraments.  Help us to be examples of Your compassion and a source of Your hope to all, especially those who are poor, lonely, suffering and sick.

Give us strength to show others what it means to follow Jesus.  Help us to answer the call to be His witnesses, His missionaries.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who is Lord forever.  Amen.

For information about the ministry of the Holy Childhood Association, including on-line activities for children, check out www.hcakids.org.

For more information about the Pontifical Mission Society, go to www.onefamilyinmission.org.

It seems that this week's readings are about second chances.  God calls Moses to return to Egypt to redeem his relationship with his true people.  St. Paul reminds the Corinthians and us to not follow the examples of our grumbling ancestors, but to heed the teachings of Christ.  And Jesus' parable reminds us that even fig trees (people) who don't produce (good works) should be given second chances.

We learn about sin and forgiveness best in our families.  Every family experiences disagreements and conflicts.  Family members disappoint and hurt others with their words and actions.  If we allow these conflicts and hurts to build up and fester, our hearts and souls perish.  If we act like the gardener, however, and dig out the hurt and prune back the disappointment with forgiveness, the fruit of peace and joy and love will grow in the hearts and souls of our families.

Faith Chat:  Who do you need to forgive and offer a second chance?

Faith Response:  Together, watch a family movie about forgiveness and second chances.  Discuss what happens in the movie:  What mistakes did the characters make?  How did they resolve their issues?  How did love prevail?  Then, write a letter to someone who has disappointed you.  Tell them of your love for them and forgiveness of their actions.  Invite them to be reconciled to you and to God.

Prayer:  Loving God, help us to offer and accept second chances.  Amen.

**Check out http://www.usccb.org/movies/ for suggestions of movies.

It's easy for me to abstain from meat on Fridays (or any time, for that matter) because I like pasta and rice better than meat.  So that part went well.  But as for other fasting, I wasn't quite as successful. 

Did you know that the Church requires fasting only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?  The rest of our Lenten fast is on our own.  There are many different ways to fast.  We can fast from eating food between meals.  We can fast from a particular type of food or drink.  We can fast from activities that get in the way of our relationship with God and with other people.  You can even fast from different things each week.  For example, during the first week of Lent, you might fast from drinking all that Coke; through the second week of Lent, you could fast from playing so many video games; through the third week of Lent, you could fast from potato and other kinds of chips; and so on.

We have to remember, however, that fasting isn't an end in itself.  We have to reflect on the reason for our fast.  We may fast from food and drink to offer a sacrifice in alignment with Jesus' fast in the desert. We may fast from food and donate the money we might have spent to Operation Rice Bowl or another organization that feeds the hungry.  We may fast from certain activities so that we can read more from the Bible or pray more or spend more time with our families.  The action of simply fasting is good, but it becomes a spiritual practice when we consider the reasons behind the fast.

So what are you fasting from this Lent and why?

As Catholic Christians, we are called to "walk according to the pattern" Christ has set for us.  This pattern, this way of life, has been shown to us not ony in the Scriptures, but also in the example of the Saints, our ancestors, our parents and grandparents, and others who walk among us.

Walking according to Christ's pattern is not easy.  Jesus' actions were counter-cultural; our lives, too, must be counter-cultural.  The world's values are often far from the values of faith.  It is important to have people around us who provide example and encouragement so that we may stay true to our walk in the ways of Christ.

Faith Chat Question:  Who shows or has shown you how to walk in the ways of Christ?  Who encourages you to stay true to our walk with Jesus?

Faith Response:  Write thank you notes to those people who have told you about God, who have inspired you and encourage you to live a faith-filled life.

Prayer:  Loving Jesus, open our eyes to see those whom you have put with us to encourage us in our walk of faith.  May we give thanks for these people every day.  Amen.

I've never been to the desert, but based on geography lessons, I know that the desert is dry, blazing hot during the day, freezing cold at night, and rather barren.  So why would Jesus willingly go into the desert, where there is no food or drink and the elements are severe?  He went into the desert because he "was led by the Spirit."  He willingly followed the Spirit.

I have to say that I haven't always followed where the Spirit is leading me.  I've taken detours because I haven't wanted to deal with possible difficulties or make the potential sacrifices necessary in following the Spirit.  I didn't want to give up my control over my life.

This Scripture reading is a reminder to us that if we are truly faithful to God, we will give up control, we will follow wherever Spirit leads us, despite the potential difficulties.  Jesus followed the Spirit and while he suffered - sun-burned skin, blistered lips, growling stomach, great weariness - God filled him with the strength to withstand against the temptations of the devil.

When we follow the Spirit's promptings in our lives, it isn't always easy.  We may be called to give up certain comforts:  I need to get up off this couch, away from this TV, and go help my neighbor shovel her driveway; I can't read this great novel right now because I need to be present to my teenage daughter who needs a listening ear; I can't nap right now because I need to make a casserole for the funeral tomorrow.  But I can guarantee, if we follow the Spirit, we will be energized, filled with life, overwhelmingly joyful.

Faith Chat Question:  What are you doing this Lent to follow Jesus into the desert?

Faith Response:  In order to follow Spirit, we need to know what Spirit is calling us to, which means we need to be quiet and listen.  Each day this week, invite household members to spend at least 5 minutes of quiet each day.  During your quiet time, just sit, close your eyes, become aware of your breathing, imagine your thoughts flowing down a river and out of your mind, and become conscious of the presence of God within you.  As you practice quietness, you will begin to hear God whispering in your heart.  Pay attention to what God is saying to you.  Younger family members may not be able to sit totally quiet with eyes closed, so allow them to quietly draw pictures of God speaking to them.  After your quiet time, share with one another what you felt and experienced in your time with God.

Prayer:  Spirit of God, lead us where you want us to go and fill us with a burning desire to follow you no matter what.  Amen.

Lent is an opportunity for us to take stock in what we're "wearing" in our lives.  While we might be called to look at what we are actually clothing our body with - are we dressing appropriately, modestly? - we are more likely to be called to consider the attitudes we're wearing.

Here's an excerpt from the article by Randy Raus:

"The approach taken by What Not to Wear actually helps both its victims and the audience make smarter fashion choices and often with the benefit of improving their self esteem. The show is a sort of educational program and I believe a method that when applied to Lent helps us grow in our faith. We may be able to truly look at what we are projecting by the attitudes we are “wearing” during the 40+ days of Lent and by eliminating some of the things in our spiritual closet help us to have a holy Lent."

For the guide about "What Not to Wear" during Lent, go to http://www.catholicyouthministry.com/a-what-not-to-wear-guide-to-lent.

Why is it that I can go every other day not eating between meals, sometimes even forgetting to eat meals (like working through lunch), but on Ash Wednesday, when I'm told to fast, all I can think about is food? 

Fasting, they say, is good for the soul.  The prophets fasted.  Saints through the centuries fasted.  Even Jesus fasted.  Fasting helps us to remember that we must be dependent on God.  All that we have is a result of God's love and goodness.  God blesses us with talents and abilities that allow us to work so that we can make money to buy food, clothing, and shelter for our families. 

No one ever said that fasting was easy.  It takes conscious effort not to eat those things that we want so badly.  We make this conscious effort so that we may live in solidarity with all those who fast every day because of lack of food.  We make this conscious effort to be united in Spirit with all those who have fasted before us and all those who are fasting around the world today.

I need to keep reminding myself of all of this as my stomach growls, my mouth waters at the thought of food, and I am tempted to just nibble on this one cookie. 

May our fasting be a prayer for all those who do not have food today or any other day.  May our fasting draw us closer to the God who loves us and provides for all our needs.

This is such a good reminder that our journey through Lent should be filled with joy.  Lent is not meant to be sad or depressing.  We can have fun with our preparation for the celebration of Easter!  I love that this video can help us have fun with our faith.

That is the question most Catholic people ask one another in the week or so before Ash Wednesday. 

But I would challenge us to ask a different question:  "What are you doing this Lent to get ready for Easter?"  Just as Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation at Christmas, Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection at Easter. 

The Church promotes three ways for preparing for Easter:  fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. 

Many of us understand the concept of fasting.  We give up something.  We give up things as an offering of sacrifice to God in return for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  When we give up something we need to examine our hearts to determine how our sacrifice is for the glory of God.  How will our sacrifice lead us to a deeper understanding of Jesus' Resurrection?

When we hear the word "almsgiving," most people think of giving money to those in need.  The Church even provides us with an entity to give to:  Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl.  ORB is a wonderful program that not only encourages Catholics to give of their monetary resources to a world-renowned organization that helps people in need, but it also provides many resources for education and prayer, joining us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the globe.  For ORB information and resources, go to www.orb.crs.org.

But many don't have the financial resources to give.  Children typically don't have jobs, and even if they earn an allowance, their primary giving comes from sharing themselves. We need to recognize the sharing of our talents and abilities when it comes to almsgiving, too.  When we help others, we share the love and compassion of our Resurrected Lord.

Prayer is another way we prepare for Easter.  Increasing our time with God has great advantages, not only spiritually, but also in our every day living.  When we are in touch with God, we feel more joy and peace.  (See the Lord's Day Faith Chat for February 14, 2010 - below.)  Our connection with God empowers us to be more connected, loving and caring, with our families, friends, co-workers, and all whom we meet.

So this Lent, don't ask, "What are you giving up?"  Ask instead, "How are you preparing for the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection?"

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream... (Jeremiah 17:7-8a)

When we are rooted in the Lord, we do not fear the "heat" of hardships and struggles.  When we trust the Lord, we are able to remain joyful in the midst of distress.  Throughout the centuries, people of faith have done some amazing things.  Even as they encountered persecution and rejection, they continued to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Because they whole-heartedly trusted the Lord, even though they were poor and without food, they knew that God would care for their needs, providing what they needed to survive.  Even though they cried out in agony, they knew they would eventually rejoice when they met their Savior face to face.  Even though they were sad because of the ways of the world, their hearts remained joyful in the Lord.  When they were rejected, they knew they were loved by God.

Today, we are reminded to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors in faith.  Just as they were rooted in the Lord, we, too, must learn to put all our trust in the Lord.

Faith Chat Question:  Are you rooted in the Lord?  What steps might you need to take, what might you need to let go of, in order to increase your trust in God?

Faith Response:  Read the Beatitudes in Luke's gospel, Luke 6:20-26.  As a household, reflect on how you might be poor or rich, hungry or filled, weeping or laughing, hated or welcomed.  Discus what your household might do this Lent to share your resources with the poor, to feed the hungry, to comfort those who are sad, and to welcome others.  Make a commitment to do one thing in the next 40 days based on these Beatitudes.

Prayer:  Loving God, River of Life, allow your compassion to flow through us as we reflect on the goodness in our lives and reach out to those in need.  Amen.