Encountering Christ this Lent
Encounter at Catholic Charities
Each year, Lent invites us into a season of reflection, slowing us down, asking us to look honestly at our lives.
Where is Christ present?
Where is he calling us to grow?
And perhaps most importantly, where is he waiting for us in the lives of others?
Recently, Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell visited Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri and blessed an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
During the blessing, he reflected on the work of Catholic Charities and the neighbors we serve through programs such as our Food Pantry, Predatory Loan Relief and Family Immigration Services.
His words were simple and direct: “When they encounter action, they encounter Christ.”
This truth is rooted in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus tells his disciples, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”(25:40).
When we meet someone who is hungry, frightened, lonely or uncertain about the future, we are not merely encountering another person — we are encountering Christ himself.
This conviction stands at the center of the mission of Catholic Charities.
Each day, staff members and volunteers meet neighbors carrying heavy burdens.
Some arrive at the Food Pantry after weeks of worrying about how to stretch a limited grocery budget.
Others seek help navigating the complicated legal processes that shape immigration cases while trying to keep their families together.
Still others come searching for a path forward amid overwhelming debt or financial hardship.
What first begins as assistance often becomes something deeper: an encounter.
A volunteer offering groceries may hear a story that echoes their own family’s struggles.
A staff member helping with paperwork may witness remarkable courage and perseverance.
Someone who arrives feeling ashamed or anxious may leave with a renewed sense of dignity and hope.
When we begin to recognize Christ in those who suffer, faith moves beyond abstraction.
It becomes something lived in ordinary encounters — moments of listening, patience and care — that gradually shapes our hearts.
Lent exists precisely to foster this transformation.
During these 40 days, the Church invites us to deepen our faith through three practices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Prayer draws us into a deeper relationship with Christ.
In prayer we learn to listen to his voice and recognize his presence more clearly.
When our prayers include those who struggle, our hearts begin to widen, and we see our neighbors not as distant problems, but as brothers and sisters entrusted to our care.
Fasting turns our attention outward.
By willingly setting aside comforts or habits, we remember that our lives are not centered on consumption or convenience.
Fasting creates space to notice the needs around us and reminds us that the sacrifices of Lent unite us more closely with Christ and with those who suffer.
Almsgiving gives these interior movements a visible form.
It is the act of sharing our time, our gifts, and our resources so that others may flourish.
In his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that love of neighbor flows directly from love of God.
Charity is not an abstract ideal; it is love made concrete.
Catholic Charities offers one way to live out these Lenten practices.
Many members of our community volunteer in the Food Pantry, stocking shelves or welcoming neighbors who come seeking help, while others give their time assisting families through immigration services.
Still others support this mission through financial gifts, including the Catholic Charities Lenten Appeal.
These contributions sustain programs that provide food, predatory loan relief, immigration services and compassionate accompaniment throughout the Diocese of Jefferson City.
Participating in this work is not simply an act of generosity.
It is a way of joining the Church’s mission of mercy and recognizing Christ in those we serve.
Lent leads us toward Easter by drawing us closer to Christ.
Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the Church invites us to grow in our relationship with God — and to recognize Christ present in our neighbors.
I invite you to live out these Lenten practices with us at Catholic Charities.
Prayerfully consider supporting the Catholic Charities Lenten Appeal or volunteering your time.
Visit cccnmo.diojeffcity.org to learn more.
Together, we can continue encountering Christ in our neighbors and bringing His love into our community.
