<!--
/* What it does: Remove spaces around the email design added by some
email clients. */
/* Beware: It can remove the padding / margin and add a background
color to the compose a reply window. */
html,
body {
Margin: 0 !important;
padding: 0 !important;
height: 100% !important;
width: 100% !important;
text-align: center;
}

/* What it does: Stops email clients resizing small text. */
* {
-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;
-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;
}

/* What is does: Centers email on Android 4.4 */
div[style*="margin: 16px 0"] {
margin:0 !important;
}

/* What it does: Stops Outlook from adding extra spacing to tables.
*/
table,
td {
mso-table-lspace: 0pt !important;
mso-table-rspace: 0pt !important;
}

/* What it does: Fixes webkit padding issue. Fix for Yahoo mail table
alignment bug. Applies table-layout to the first 2 tables then removes
for anything nested deeper. */
table {
border-spacing: 0 !important;
border-collapse: collapse !important;
table-layout: fixed !important;
Margin: 0 auto !important;
}
table table table {
table-layout: auto;
}

/* What it does: Uses a better rendering method when resizing images
in IE. */
img {
-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic;
}

/* What it does: Overrides styles added when Yahoo's auto-senses a
link. */
.yshortcuts a {
border-bottom: none !important;
}

/* What it does: A work-around for iOS meddling in triggered links.
*/
.mobile-link footer a,
a[x-apple-data-detectors] {
color:inherit !important;
text-decoration: underline !important;
}
-->

<!--
/* What it does: Hover styles for buttons */
.button-td,
.button-a {
transition: all 100ms ease-in;
}
.button-td:hover,
.button-a:hover {
background: #555555 !important;
border-color: #555555 !important;
}

/* Media Queries */
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {

.email-container {
width: 100% !important;
}

/* What it does: Forces elements to resize to the full width of their
container. Useful for resizing images beyond their max-width. */
.fluid,
.fluid-centered {
max-width: 100% !important;
height: auto !important;
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
}
/* And center justify these ones. */
.fluid-centered {
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
}

/* What it does: Forces table cells into full-width rows. */
.stack-column,
.stack-column-center {
display: block !important;
width: 100% !important;
max-width: 100% !important;
direction: ltr !important;
}
/* And center justify these ones. */
.stack-column-center {
text-align: center !important;
}

/* What it does: Generic utility class for centering. Useful for
images, buttons, and nested tables. */
.center-on-narrow {
text-align: center !important;
display: block !important;
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
float: none !important;
}
table.center-on-narrow {
display: inline-block !important;
}

}

body {
background-color: #fff;
width: 100%;
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}

p{
line-height:20px;
}

h1, h2, h3, h4, h5{
color:#7A9534;
}

.signup a {font-family: Roboto Condensed, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;
color: #4F4293; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top: 15px;
font-weight:600; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none}
-->

Catholic Charities USA


Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Readings of the Day
[link removed]

 

I can be tempted to question whether my asking makes a difference. I
frame it from the perspective that I am not even asking for me, I am
asking for others. That I am not even asking for things that are
wanted, but things that are needed. Basic things, such as food, warm
clothing or a place to stay, so shouldn't these be granted over
other requests?  

In prayer I am continually humbled with reminders that I am not in
control; that I may not see the requests answered; that I may be
looking in the wrong places to see the answers; that the answers I am
expecting are not the way God wants to respond; that my timing is not
God's; and the list goes on. I am humbled, but I know God will
respond and my asking is not inconsequential, so I go on asking. I
petition to God, and then my asking grows as I ask others to join in
our mission through their time, their skills, and their resources. I
ask to educate others and work towards systemic change. 

Asking and petitions are essential for change for those we serve, and
yet Jesus calls us even further: "Do to others whatever you
would have them do to you." For us to be able to serve others
and strive towards fulfilling our petitions, we need to also adhere to
our Lenten practices of fasting and almsgiving. By fasting I free
myself from the areas of my life that are holding me back, so I can
more fully respond to my petitions with my talents and skills. I
further commit myself through almsgiving by giving of my materials and
fiscal resources. Change requires my engaging all three so that God
can best utilize my free will for His purposes, not my
best-intentioned requests. 

This Lent let us faithfully commit ourselves to all three areas and
see how they transform us and our communities. We may not fully
understand how all our petitions are answered, but we trust that the
One who has overcome death will bring them to fruition according to
His plan by using our mustard seed of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Michael Smith is Chief Program Office at Catholic Charities Maine.

 





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