For some Christian denominations, the season of sacrifice is now underway and will end on April 17, 2014. 40 days of prayer, fasting and personal sacrifice mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a man leaves on a journey, he must know where he is going. Thus is the case with Lent. Above all, Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter, "the Feast of Feasts." It is the preparation for the "fulfilment of Pascha, the true Revelation."

 

Lent is a recession for the soul. It gives you an opportunity to do without and consider what's really important. Lent reminds us that everything we enjoy is a gift. In times like this, it reminds us that jobs and opportunities are divine gifts, not rights.

 

Throughout Lent there are three acts we can do to adequately prepare for Easter; fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

 

The act of fasting is somewhat misconstrued nowadays throughout Lent as people tend to give up something up for the sake of it, myself included. But fasting is the desire to be more like Jesus and walk with Him through the desert and along the journey; to prepare ourselves for Easter. Personal desires for things we do not necessarily need can often get in the way of our relationship with Jesus and so when we give these things up and erase our ‘I want’ statements, we give ourselves a much better chance of really becoming closer to Jesus.

Fasting is probably the most well-known aspect to Lent from a social point of view, but the most important part of Lent is prayer. Prayer is the easiest and best way to become closer to God and is vital in preparing to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. As little as 5 minutes a day dedicated to prayer makes such a huge different if we are open to it. There are many books and guides available for Lenten prayer and meditation that are very short and very helpful for daily use.

Almsgiving is giving help through money, support, labour, food and many other things. There are many great charities and societies that have campaigns throughout Lent that need much help and support. For some of us though, money is not always a viable option of giving and so we turn to other forms of giving. Small and subtle ways of helping are often the best and so random acts of kindness and compassion never go astray.

Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are the best ways to prepare ourselves for Easter. To allow ourselves to truly appreciate the amazing love that Jesus has for each one of us and the unimaginable value he has placed within us through His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection.

Each year Lent and Easter are, once again, the rediscovery and the recovery by us of what we were made through our own baptismal death and resurrection.

A journey, a pilgrimage! Yet, as we begin it, as we make the first step into the "bright sadness" of Lent, we see far, far away the destination. It is the joy of Easter; it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom. And it is this vision, the foretaste of Easter, which makes Lent's sadness bright and our Lenten effort a "spiritual spring." The night may be dark and long, but all along the way a mysterious and radiant dawn seems to shine on the horizon.

Summing up then, Lent is thus a time in which the Gospel should challenge us, disturb us and unsettle our present judgments. It is also the time for preparation for the Triduum so that we can go to the cross like Christ and put to death all in us not worthy of a child of God in order to renew our own baptismal vows at the Paschal Vigil. We should endeavour therefore to make progress on our pilgrimage journey to the Promised Land. As Leo the Great expressed it:

“None of us, dear friends, is so perfect and holy, as to make reflection and improvement unnecessary. All of us, regardless of rank or dignity, should be concerned to embark on the race that is set before us with fresh determination this Lent, making an effort over and above the norm.”

Finally, Lent reminds us of what the Christian life is about, and encourages us to pursue it.

So this Lent, GIVE UP the things you don’t need, GIVE TIME to God in prayer and reflection and GIVE COMPASSION and LOVE to the people who need it.

- Ashley Mwanza