Lent
It's crazy that Ash Wednesday is tomorrow already! Lent is one of my favorite parts of the Liturgical Year, and I think it's because it leads to the greatest season of all...Easter!! Besides that, though, it gives us a reason to restart. It's a time dedicated to drawing near to Christ and His Passion and Death. It's a time to do our best to give ourselves back to Him, for all He has done for us. The Church sets Lent aside to work specifically on prayer, fasting, and giving alms.
I've never been good at New Year's resolutions, because in my mind a new year technically starts every day. Lent, on the other hand, is a short season with a tangible finish. We know the ending to the story. Jesus died for us, and he went on to beat death! But for now, we must wait and prepare ourselves. I've always kind of looked at Lent as a time to better myself and my relationship with Christ, rather than just moping about because I gave up warm showers or something. It's a time to create faith habits; you know, the ones you've been putting off starting.
Our prayer life is something that all of us can work on improving. It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Well, we get 40! This gives you plenty of time to form the habit and become settled in it before Lent is over. For example, maybe you're like me and get really busy during the day and just sort of forget to talk to God. By the time I'm in bed at night, I'm too tired to read the Bible or spend quality time in prayer. I want to change that this Lent, and I want to change for good. So, I'm going to get up at a specific time and dedicate part of my morning to prayer and Scripture. I hope to form a routine that I will continue for the rest of my life. This might look different for you. Maybe you've been meaning to start saying nighttime prayers with your kids, but don't know where to start. Or you have a Rosary hanging in your vehicle but never pray it. Lent is the perfect time to begin!
Fasting is a major part of Lent, and it seems to be the mark that most people remember about this time of year. What are you giving up? Well, obviously meat on Fridays. But did you know that as Catholics we are encouraged to give up meat every Friday of the year? Not everyone is called to or is able to do that, but there are other ways to fast. Personally, I give up coffee one day a week throughout the year as a form of fasting for Jesus. Now, the Church understands that you may have health constraints that prevent you from fasting from food. If that's you, that's okay! Fast from something else, like social media or gossiping or your snooze button. The important thing to remember is that you are forgoing something as an offering to the Lord.
Alms is probably the most simple of the three in application to our lives. And the Church makes it pretty easy. Rice Bowls are given out at the beginning of Lent to collect change, but if you aren't big on using cash as payment you can give in other ways. When is the last time you cleaned out your closet? There are likely lots of clothing items you never wear that could be donated to a charity like St. Vincent de Paul. How are the shelves in your local food pantry looking? They get pretty bare this time of year....boxes of cereal or cans of veggies can go a long way, and for you it's as simple as grabbing an extra few items during your weekly grocery run. How about your time? When did you last see your grandma in the nursing home, or visit your neighbor who lives alone? See, money isn't the only thing we can give.
Lent is one of those things where you get whatever you put into it. If you don't try, your life probably won't be changed much. But if you give it all you've got, miracles will happen and you'll never be the same again.
I've never been good at New Year's resolutions, because in my mind a new year technically starts every day. Lent, on the other hand, is a short season with a tangible finish. We know the ending to the story. Jesus died for us, and he went on to beat death! But for now, we must wait and prepare ourselves. I've always kind of looked at Lent as a time to better myself and my relationship with Christ, rather than just moping about because I gave up warm showers or something. It's a time to create faith habits; you know, the ones you've been putting off starting.
Our prayer life is something that all of us can work on improving. It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Well, we get 40! This gives you plenty of time to form the habit and become settled in it before Lent is over. For example, maybe you're like me and get really busy during the day and just sort of forget to talk to God. By the time I'm in bed at night, I'm too tired to read the Bible or spend quality time in prayer. I want to change that this Lent, and I want to change for good. So, I'm going to get up at a specific time and dedicate part of my morning to prayer and Scripture. I hope to form a routine that I will continue for the rest of my life. This might look different for you. Maybe you've been meaning to start saying nighttime prayers with your kids, but don't know where to start. Or you have a Rosary hanging in your vehicle but never pray it. Lent is the perfect time to begin!
Fasting is a major part of Lent, and it seems to be the mark that most people remember about this time of year. What are you giving up? Well, obviously meat on Fridays. But did you know that as Catholics we are encouraged to give up meat every Friday of the year? Not everyone is called to or is able to do that, but there are other ways to fast. Personally, I give up coffee one day a week throughout the year as a form of fasting for Jesus. Now, the Church understands that you may have health constraints that prevent you from fasting from food. If that's you, that's okay! Fast from something else, like social media or gossiping or your snooze button. The important thing to remember is that you are forgoing something as an offering to the Lord.
Alms is probably the most simple of the three in application to our lives. And the Church makes it pretty easy. Rice Bowls are given out at the beginning of Lent to collect change, but if you aren't big on using cash as payment you can give in other ways. When is the last time you cleaned out your closet? There are likely lots of clothing items you never wear that could be donated to a charity like St. Vincent de Paul. How are the shelves in your local food pantry looking? They get pretty bare this time of year....boxes of cereal or cans of veggies can go a long way, and for you it's as simple as grabbing an extra few items during your weekly grocery run. How about your time? When did you last see your grandma in the nursing home, or visit your neighbor who lives alone? See, money isn't the only thing we can give.
Lent is one of those things where you get whatever you put into it. If you don't try, your life probably won't be changed much. But if you give it all you've got, miracles will happen and you'll never be the same again.
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