Lenten Reflection 

Lent is a season of fasting when we take up a penance, whether it’s from some food or media or something else. The first few weeks usually go smoothly, but then it starts becoming a challenge. I know for me after a week or so, maybe even the first two days, I start failing in my disciplines. When this happens, I find it helpful to take some time and really ask myself "Why?". It is important to reflect on the penances that we have taken up, and why we have decided on these penances. We should ask ourselves, "Why did I decide on this penance, and is it helping me grow in relationship with Christ?". Am I doing the penance for my own pride to say I was able to do “X” amount of fasting, or that I am better than another person who is only doing a very small amount of fasting? What is it we see when we look at the disciplines of Lent? When it comes to fasting, intention is so important! In my own life I have gone through the many different phases of fasting, from doing an extreme fast, because I think that makes me holier; to trying as many different things as possible, so I can say that Lent was very hard. Lent's worth is not in how hard it is but is about us becoming closer to God.

Something I need to constantly remind, and ask myself is "Why is it that I am fasting? Why is it that I am wanting to take up a specific fast?" Is it so I feel good about myself doing this, or am I asking Jesus what I need to do to become who He wants me to be? If it is the first, then I may want to revise that fast. Fasting is to strengthen our relationship with God, not massage our ego! Since we are loved by the Father and our freedom is at the cost of the blood of Christ, our worth is not in what we can do but in the love God has for us. We need to remember God does not want us to suffer needlessly, but we are called to sacrifice, so to grow closer to God. We give something up to make room for God in our busy lives.

When we take up a penance, we should ask, "Is this giving us more time to pray with God?". If we give up television for Lent, how are we using that time usually spent on watching TV? Are we taking that time and spending it with God or letting something else take our attention? We give up things so to grow closer to God. Take up your cross, whether by the extra penances or daily hardships, and unite it to God. Prepare for the coming of God! Lent leads us to Easter for a reason. Great things happen after 40 days of penance. Moses received the Ten Commandments; Jesus started his public ministry. If this Lent, we really surrender ourselves to God, to his will in our lives and what he wants for us, then how much more joyful will this Easter be? This Lent let us make room in our hearts, by surrendering, by giving up whatever it is that has latched itself to our hearts that we are keeping from God. May this Lent be abundantly fruitful for all the faithful, and may Christ, the true King, reign forever in all the hearts of his people.