Our Lenten Journey Is Just The Beginning

The three traditional ways to prepare for the joyful season of Easter is to pray, fast and give alms during Lent. This week we enter the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday - February 14th. This is a day we are asked to fast (2 small meals and one regular meal) and to abstain from meat the entire day. People who have reached the age of 60 are excused from the requirement to fast but may do so if their health permits.

All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Abstinence and fasting are offered in union with the sacrifice of Christ and help us to grow in holiness. Almsgiving can not only be providing financial resources to the poor but it can also take the form of service and volunteering.

When we recognize the small inconveniences of our personal sacrifices, increasing our prayer time, fasting and almsgiving, we can grow in holiness of life. Another way we can look at fasting is to "fast" from some bad habit or vice and practice a virtue. Such as we can fast from gossip or complaining or using our Lord's Name in vain and increase our love for our neighbor including those neighbors who try our patience.

And let's not forget that Lent is a very good time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation - especially if we have not been to confession in months or years. Our Lord desires to meet each of us in this great sacrament and to extend His mercy to us. He desires to restore us to our baptismal innocence and strengthen us as members of his Body, the Church.

So let us spend this Lent in union with Christ our Savior and give glory and thanksgiving to God our Father. Let us pray for one another as we journey this Lent to celebrate our Easter glory!