Fr. Matt Kane, Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, delivered a powerful Lenten Mission over three nights at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Colorado Springs.
Focusing on returning to the essentials of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Father Matt reminded us that Lent calls us back to the basics of our faith to deepen our relationship with God.
He emphasized that human beings crave unconditional love, and only God can provide it perfectly, like the sun that shines relentlessly on everyone, good and bad alike (echoing Matthew 5:45 and the profound demonstration of God’s love in Romans 5:6-8, where Paul declares that Christ died for us while we were still sinners). God’s love is always shining, constant, and unwavering, no matter our failings.
Father Matt spoke beautifully about suffering: it can be redemptive when offered with intention. Suffering does not have the last word—God does! While the common saying is that “God only gives you what you can handle,” the key is staying close to Him; with His grace and our reliance on Him, we find strength beyond our own limits.
The mission moved hearts from despair to hope, encouraging everyone to pray as you can, not as you can’t—meeting God honestly in whatever way possible, without forcing perfection. A grace-filled Lenten reminder: God’s love never fails, suffering can lead to glory, and hope rises when we stay near Him. Thank you, Fr. Matt Kane, for guiding us deeper into the heart of Lent!