Prayer - Fasting - Almsgiving           Why does every major religion invite its members to pray, fast and give alms to the poor? The answer has to do with who we are as human beings and the purpose of religion. A human is not just a naked ape. We differ from our animal friends in the quality of our intellect and will, our ability to reason and make free choices. We also differ from angels. Angels are created spirits (God is an uncreated Spirit). What then is a human being? A human person is a spirit who expresses itself through a body. There have been times when people thought the body trapped a person's spirit. This type of thinking led to a putting down, neglecting and even despising of the body. As Christians, we honor the body as God's creation and profess our belief in the Resurrection of the Body. Indeed as humans we are to nourish and care for both body and spirit. Religion helps a person develop a right relationship with God; with God's wonderful creation, the earth and all that is in it; with one another and with one's own self. It is through the harmonious development of body, mind and spirit that we grow as God has created us. Every religion calls on its members to fast, pray and help those in need through acts of charity (almsgiving) in order to help them develop right relationships. Muslims spend the month of Ramadan in this way. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting and reconciliation for those of the Jewish Religion. Christians focus on these activities during Lent. For Latin Rite Catholics Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The receiving of ashes reminds them of their mortality and that they are dust and unto dust they will return, that is they are creatures and are to walk humbly before God the Creator. This leads them to act justly and love tenderly. For Eastern Rite Catholics and the Orthodox, Lent begins on the Monday prior to Ash Wednesday, but preparation for Lent begins even earlier. For all Christians Lent is a time of repentance and renewal so that their lives might reflect the love of Christ more fully.  After his Baptism, Jesus went into the desert to meditate on what he had heard and how he was to share that with others. What did Jesus hear at his baptism? That God considered him and those who would be united to him in baptism as "beloved children." In the desert the devil tempted Jesus to focus on himself rather than the mission of proclaiming this GOOD NEWS. There the devil tempted him to turn stones into bread; to fall down in worship and so gain control of all the kingdoms of earth; to test God's care for him by throwing himself off the Temple. We face similar temptations in our life. We are tempted to find all our nourishment from material goods. We want to be in charge, to exercise control, to be number one. We want to have our own little world in which all our needs are met. Fasting reminds us that our deepest needs cannot be met through the possession of material goods. Prayer reminds us that God is in charge and that we are to do God's will. Almsgiving reminds us that we are not to hoard all we can get, but are simply stewards of certain gifts for a short period of time. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving can help us develop right relationships.