Lord, I Am Poor

Calling home was heartbreaking during a particular season in my family’s life.

Something had happened to a family member. The situation was stark in the foreground of our minds and hearts, and it was palpable even as we tried to carry on with life and speak about ordinary things.

During this season, the Lord taught me something that has enriched my whole life.

I went on an extended mission trip and stayed with an older couple whose goodness was effusive. In those days, the peace they exuded was even more attractive because it was clear they had lived through several iterations of what my family was presently navigating.

I spoke with the wife one night, we called her “Aunt Janis,” and I asked her what she thought I could do to support my family through the situation. Aunt Janis listened tenderly, and I felt her receptivity was healing me. After a while, she gently told me about some things that would likely eventually happen in our family as a result of the situation, and she told me to keep on particularly loving my family member who was at the core of the situation.

In a way, it was like Aunt Janis gave alms to the poor that night. She and her husband had a wealth of experience lived with grace, and she poured into my struggling heart. She gave me hope, bolstered my faith, and offered the light of her hard-earned wisdom. Her generosity spread through me to my family and prepared us for the rough road ahead. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

As we embark on another Lenten season, we come precisely as we are. Perhaps some of us are carrying beautiful hopes, and maybe others are bringing pleading-prayers to the Lord.

The First Reading this morning offers a beautiful description of God’s Heart. It is worth reading the whole passage for Lent: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed” (Isaiah 58:6).

Sisters, His heart is our home, and He wants us to remain in Him during Lent. So let’s take a moment to ask God what kind of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer the Lord desires from us this year.

As we embark on another Lenten season, we come precisely as we are. // @srmariakimClick to tweet

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Sister Maria Kim Bui is a Daughter of Saint Paul, women religious dedicated to evangelization in and through the media. She is originally from Tempe, AZ, spent most of her eighteen years in religious life in the northeast, some time in Texas, and now was recently asked to serve as the director of marketing and sales at the Sisters' publishing house in Boston. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book called Rise Up and the author of our Blessed Conversations Mystery: Belong found here. Find out more about her here.