Lenten Preparations

The season of Lent has begun and that offers Catholics around the world an opportunity to radically reorient themselves to Christ and the Gospel.  Lent is a time of preparation for the greatest feast of the Church - Easter.  Lent enables us the time and space to prepare our hearts for the incredible message that Mary Magdelene brought to the apostles - He's alive!  Here are some things we can do to get the most out of our Lenten season.  

Prayer
I know, I know, that's not very original, but if we would do it, it would be transformational.  All of us talk about prayer, but are we taking the time to do it?  Lent gives us 40 days to make it happen.  We make the commitment to offer extra prayers, read more scripture, go to adoration, attend a weekday Mass, pray an extra decade of the Rosary, etc.  If you need a guide to starting a personal prayer time, click here.  Prayer is a conversation with God.  It requires quiet, time, honesty, and change.  We come as we are and we leave as He is.  Prayer brings us peace but is not always peaceful.  The Spirit stirs things up in us, shines light upon our darkness, digs deeper and call us to reject our sins, bias, and delusions in order to accept His word, His healing, and His grace.  Honest and sincere prayer requires courage and commitment; it is not the activity of only the weak or timid.  

Fasting
Lent offers us Americans a unique experience, fasting.  In our culture of excessive NOW and MORE, we strange Catholics humble ourselves through fasting.  We intentionally go without food or abstain from meat or give up chocolate or coffee or t.v. or our iPods.  Why?  First, to humble ourselves a little, we give up a pleasure or privilege and offer that space in our life to God to fill us.  Second, to free ourselves, we separate ourselves from "essentials" to have a better understanding of what makes life meaningful.  Third, to quiet ourselves, we simply say NO! to our selfish appetites that always ask for more and new and now.  Saying NO to self makes us more capable to say YES to God and to others.  Fasting brings humility, freedom and quiet enabling us to appreciate the value of Jesus' sacrifice and the true glory of the resurrection.

Almsgiving
Almsgiving is that extra gift that hurts a little.  Tithing, the giving of 10% of  your increase to the Lord, is the standard giving that we commit to as members of His body, the Church.  Tithing brings us peace and furthers the spread of the Gospel and the building up of the kingdom.  Almsgiving is extra.  It is that special gift to the poor that means you will have to do without.  Almsgiving reminds us of two things.  First, it reminds us that this life is temporary and we can't get too attached to the unimportant stuff because our ultimate destiny is heaven. Second, it reminds us that our life in Christ is the most precious treasure we have and He will provide for all our needs.   We find our life by losing it, Jesus says, so this Lent, let us lose ourselves in serving and giving to others who are in need.  

Easter is what distinguishes Christians from every other religion.  The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His gift of eternal life to us is the reason for His coming to us as a man.  Take advantage of the season of Lent to pray, fast, and give alms so our hearts can receive the full glory of the resurrection this Easter.  God bless you, we love you and are praying for you every day!  

In Jesus and Mary, Doug Weisbruch