Game Plan for Lent

Executing Jesus’ teachings for Lent and life

03/05/2025

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

If you are the coach of a Division I college basketball program, you better have a game plan before your team gets on the court. Last week I had the funeral of Melanie Donaubauer, and the legendary Coach Nolan Richardson was here at Immaculate Conception for the funeral.

He is close friends with the Donaubauer family. Coach Richardson’s game plan for his team was simple, it was called “40 minutes of hell.” And it worked because the Arkansas Razorbacks won the national championship in 1994. When Coach Mike Anderson succeeded Coach Richardson, people asked him what his game plan was for the basketball Hogs.

He jokingly replied: “Coach Richardson had 40 minutes of hell. Now, our game plan is 20 minutes of hell and 20 minutes of I don’t know what the hell we’re doing.” It’s okay to say “hell” if you are a priest and in church. If you want to be able to say “hell” you should become a priest too.

In the gospel today, Jesus gives his disciples his game plan for Lent, which is really the best game plan for life. Jesus, the greatest coach who ever lived, taught his team a three-step game plan. First, almsgiving, which is helping the poor. Second prayer, especially praying in private, even in secret.

And third, fasting, which involves not eating as much and not looking like you’re fasting; you should look pretty. By the way, this year I am sending my almsgiving donation to Catholic Charities of Arkansas. Why? Well, because they lost their funding from the federal government to help migrants and for refugee resettlement.

Every year people ask me, “Fr. John what should I do for Lent this year?” My answer is always the same: “What did Jesus give us as our game plan for Lent and for life?” So, this Lent do three things: (1) find a way to help the poor, (2) take extra time for personal prayer, and (3) practice fasting from food and drink.

My friends, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting is our Christian game-plan for Lent and for life. It will not help you win a national championship in basketball, but it will help you win “an imperishable crown” (1 Cor 9:25) in heaven. Put differently, Jesus’ game plan is not about how to “give ‘em hell,” but about how to "stay out of hell.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!