Lent and...Love?

One post in 2006 and one in 2008...here it is 2014...I'm not very good at this whole blogging thing! I've been thinking, since this past Wednesday, which happened to be Ash Wednesday and the beginning of  Lent, what my 'penance' would be...and I've decided that I'll try and write a weekly post about some parable experience that happened, since that is the title of this blog after all!
 Lent is all about a 40-day journey of love, is it not? It's a time for us, as Christians, to examine our lives and fast from those things holding us back from fully loving, pray for the courage to love by forgiving, and give alms out of love for neighbor. Jesus spent his whole life loving, even laying down his own life, so that we might know what love is? How do I, and you, respond?
 Today's scripture passages talked about a little bit today. The first reading talked about God creating Adam and Eve out of love, not necessity, He made them because He had so much he couldn't contain it all. What was their response? "Thanks for making us God, but we can handle it from here." I know I've said that to God a few times, as well as my parents and friends. Is that a loving response?
 Lucky for us, St. Paul tells us in the second reading, that just as sin entered the world, redemption would come about by one man as well. Redemption that would come because He chose to love...everyone and everyday.
 The Gospel makes it clear that making that choice is not easy. We will face constant challenges and temptations from many faces and places. Our only defense? Our faith in a loving, and merciful God. He provides both physical and spiritual food. We need not test Him to see if He really will take care of us. He alone is who we worship.
 Where did I see or experience love this week? Parents helping their children pack up a life and move to a new community, actors and athletes performing on 'stages', sponsors witnessing to the the readiness of soon-to-be Catholics, fans and audiences appreciating and supporting their 'teams', visiting a friend who needs support, receiving thank you post cards from former house guests, beautiful 'spring' weather, serious, and not-so serious conversations, and many more.
 Be on the lookout for expressions of love in your own life and how you can pray, fast, and 'almsgive' your way through this journey of love, we call Lent.