February 21, 2004
Lent and the Christian Life
Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return. - - Ash Wednesday mass, see Genesis 3:19Lent is one of the Catholic practices I recommend for everyone – it’s hard to understand how much you can affect your life by focusing on your death. Lent, for those who don’t know, begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter. It is “a season of penance” when we imitate Christ who went into the desert for forty days (the length of Lent) before his earthly ministry began.
In the Bible, we see Moses (Ex 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8), and then Jesus (Matt 4:2) spend forty days fasting in preparation for a great event. Lent is our fast in preparation for the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. But, how should we “fast” during Lent? Catholics are encouraged to make sacrifices and commitments to God the help us to focus on Him as we approach the Crucifixion and Resurrection. One simple and common example is giving up meat on Fridays. Does this directly impact your spiritual life? In one way it does: it is a constant reminder that we are in Lent and preparing for the Crucifixion of God. Sacrifice focuses you in a way that other things cannot.
In a more profound way, we also make commitments to prayer, almsgiving, and/or reading spiritual books. We push ourselves to resist temptation and remind ourselves that at any time we may die and face God. We give up the material things we enjoy for a season in an attempt to help form our will to God’s Will.
As Wednesday approaches, Catholics everywhere are considering what God would have them do; how can I personally sacrifice in a way that deepens my relationship with my Savior? I encourage everyone to do the same.
God bless,
Jay
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Apart from the fish Fridays, isn't that how every day of the Christian life is to be?
Posted by: Steve at February 22, 2004 12:18 AMSteve,
That's true to a point, but we also see Paul speaking of sacrifices "for a season" in 1 Cor 7:5, which is similar to Lent. Also some days should be without sacrifices and instead full of joy: Christmas, Easter, etc.
God bless,
Jay
