What Does Lent Mean to You?

Lent starts tomorrow (February 14, 2024).  What comes to mind when you hear the word “Lent”? 

Do you have feelings of dread or joy?  Why?

Is Lent just something “necessary to get to Easter and the Resurrection”?  We all want to make it to Heaven.  Thus, we look forward to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.  However, we may not feel the same way about Lent.  We may dread what comes with Lent.

The world says suffering is something to be avoided.  Lent points us to suffering.  Many today ask, “What’s in it for me?” while Lent points us to the sacrifice of Jesus.  Lent calls us to share in the sufferings and sacrifice of Jesus so that we may share in the joy of Easter and the Resurrection. 

Lent is 40 days.  Why?  This Sunday we will hear the story of the temptation of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark.  Jesus is tempted by Satan for 40 days.  Remembering that, we celebrate Lent for 40 days.

We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  The first reading for Ash Wednesday says, “proclaim fast.”  Fasting is one way of sacrificing.  We fast to prepare ourselves for what we celebrate at Easter in Jesus’ suffering and Resurrection.  In Matthew 9:14-15, Jesus says the time will come when his disciples will fast.  Tomorrow we fast.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we also abstain from meat.  Fasting was not a new practice in Jesus’ days on earth.  I mentioned above the first reading for Ash Wednesday calls for fasting.  That reading is from the Book of Joel in the Old Testament.  Likewise, the practice of abstaining from meat can be found in the Old Testament in Daniel 10:2-3.  For us as Christians, our abstaining from meat recalls Jesus sacrificing his own flesh for us (see “Why Do Catholics Practice Fasting and Abstinence During Lent?”  Catholic Answers.  https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-do-catholics-practice-fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent.  Accessed 2/13/24).

When one thinks of Lent, the Stations of the Cross may come to mind.  It used to be that the Stations of the Cross were prayed together in parishes, most often on Friday evenings, and many people attended.  Now, the crowds are sparse, if the Stations of the Cross are even offered as a communal prayer.  Why are the Stations of the Cross a good practice for Lent?  When we participate with our hearts in the Stations, we are reflecting on the suffering that Jesus endured for us.  His suffering stands at the heart of Lent for us.

When one thinks of Lent, we may think of giving something up.  This should not be taken lightly for in what we give up, we are recalling that Jesus gave his life for us.  What are you willing to give up for Jesus?

Perhaps we give up something that takes time out of our day and give that time to Jesus.  Are you able to give up something to make the time to attend daily Mass at least once a week?  Are you able to make time to join in the Stations of the Cross?  How about Adoration?  If not, are you able to make some time to pray (more) at home each day? 

This can involve sacrifice.  In making the sacrifice, we unite ourselves to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.  Making the time to do this can also point us to conversion.  Conversion stands at the heart of Lent.  To see this we need to look no further than the first words of the first reading for Ash Wednesday for Lent, “Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.”

Lent is a time for us to return our hearts to the Lord.  How have we drifted away from the Lord since last Easter? 

Asking ourselves how we have drifted away from the Lord leads us to two more practices that are associated with Lent.  The first is our reception of ashes on Ash Wednesday.  In the Old Testament, when people repented (for example see chapter 3 of the Book of Jonah for how they “sat in ashes”), people put on ashes as a sign of their repentance.  (We can also see in Jonah 3 how they fasted in repentance.)  This points us to the confession of our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Do you have sins you need to confess?

So, Lent begins tomorrow.  What are you going to do to return your heart to Jesus?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff