Lent means “springtime” – coming to new life after winter. It marks the forty days before Easter, commemorating Jesus’ forty days in the desert and the Israelites forty years in the desert wilderness. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when we recieve ashes on our foreheads. Ashes are a symbol of repentence.
Pope Francis reminds us that “Lent is a favorable
season for opening the doors to all those in need and recognizing in them the
face of Christ.” We are called not just
to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds
as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into
Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Lent is an experience. We are urged to pray, to do
penance, and to sacrifice. With Jesus we
make the passage from death to life. Our
weaknesses and sinfulness are not the focus, but a catalyst for growth. Lent can be a challenge for us; a time to
invite Jesus into some area in our lives in need of growth.
During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading
Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms;
and we practice self-control through fasting. We
are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner
conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We
recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's
death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
May this Lenten season be filled with many blessings for each one.
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