Happy Lent! A Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent

We often say Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and Happy Easter, why not say Happy Lent!; afterall the season of Lent which we begin this weekend is a gift from God. A gift and moment in our liturgical year to pause, reflect, and act.

The theme for Lent at Assumption Church this year is: Our Lenten journey is just the Beginning. Like in the Gospel from Mark, Jesus remaining in the desert for forty days was just the beginning of His journey to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. For us too, these forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the opportunity to pause, reflect, and act. They are just the beginning to OUR Journey to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. This proclamation begins now and reaches throughout the 50 days of Easter and for the rest of our lives.

Pray and Pause: may we pray not only for ourselves but for our family, friends, and our neighbors, whether we know them or not and may we pause and give thanks to God for the blessings that we see and for the blessings that we fail to see.

Fast and Reflect: may we fast in remembrance of the suffering Jesus went through for the love of us and may we reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to fast in the first place. What a luxury it is to give up something or to add something to our lives.

Give Alms and Act: may we give alms to organizations or groups that bring dignity to people who are lacking basic dignity and may we act in a way that God’s love is felt by all who meet us.

Know that Jesus stands before us and with us as one who experienced what we will experience during this Lenten Journey.

Thank you God for the gift of Lent. As we walk this Lenten Journey together, may it be a Happy one for each of us!

Happy Lent!