As we begin Lent, it should be with a profound sense of being loved. We are forgiven; we are treasured; we are loved. Joel assured the people that it was never too late to turn back to God. Indeed, Paul invites us to be ambassadors of Christ. In other words, we are called to reveal Christ to people by our manner of living and the love that we show others. Others should have some sense of who Jesus is just by encountering us. There is no room for ego or self-seeking! Even if we haven't strayed far from God's path, repentance - a change of mind and heart - is always in order.

Our faith should always be natural, spontaneous, and from the heart. It should never be a show that is calculated to win praise and approval from others. Matthew insists that our good deeds and our religious practices should be done in secret so that we do not feed our ego. In fact, there is a certain joy in remaining anonymous, even if we are never anonymous with God. We will be imitating God, for that is how God likes to work in our lives. They say that a coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous. Many have chosen as a religious practice doing kind things each day for total strangers and without any recognition or thanks. Often the recipients of the good deed are not even aware of it. Try leaving a little gift at the door of an elderly person who lives alone or some money under the door of a family that is struggling to survive. There are countless ways we can be God's hidden presence in the world. We can touch people in so many ways.