Lenten Reflections that will prepare us for Easter Celebration

6. The Season of Lent Lent has traditionally been marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

7. PRAYER “ Prayer is the lifting up of mind and heart to God” – St. Teresa of Avila “ Prayer is a partnership and union with God. It does not mean the prayer of outward observance, but prayer from the heart, not confined to fixed times or periods but continuous throughout the day and night” – St. John Chrysostom

9. FASTING “ The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives” (Is. 58: 6-7).

12. ALMSGIVING Almsgiving can be linked to fasting. Money saved from giving up superfluities may be redirected to helping those who do not have necessities for life. Why not take the money that would be spent on that fancy meal you decided to forego and give it to those who do not know where their next meal is coming from? If you have given up movies for Lent or any other indulgence, again let the money saved be diverted to the really needy.

13. Suggested Lenten Preparation for Easter 1. Lent is about turning back to God; God is always turned towards us and looking for contact and communication (“Turn to me and be saved”, Isaiah 45:22). 2. The Israelites in the desert were forgetful and had to be reminded by Moses about all the good things God had done for them ( Deut 26:1-11). We need to take time to remember how lucky we are, to consider what God has done for us and to appreciate the blessings that are ours.

14. 3. Reconciliation, or healing our life, is possible only through realizing that we are forgiven, even though we don’t deserve it. We can recall the story of the Prodigal Son, the classic Lenten text, in the light of God’s great love for us through Christ, his amazing love & self-gift. 4. Inevitably Lent involves commitment to change, through this free gift of God’s love; a conversion of heart and priorities that will mean decisions and doing things differently.

15. 5 . Easter Sunday will then take on its fuller meaning: that we have died with Christ on Good Friday to our ‘old selves’ and destructive ways, and have been ‘re-born’ on Easter Sunday with Christ to a new life in him. Easter always has strong echoes of Baptism for us as we touch the water, hear the words and celebrate with our communities.

16. In general, Lent is a time to become more aware of what life is about. Becoming more aware of how I want to use my life, my gifts, my education, becoming more aware of the needs of others and to realize that real fulfillment comes in making my contribution to building a more just society for all. Let us use this Lenten time in a really constructive way.