First Sunday of Lent

On Ash Wednesday we started the Season of Lent with the imposition of ashes on our heads. It is meant to remind us of our identity and relationship with God. First, it means we belong to God. We are his children. Second, as his children, we have the responsibility to make Jesus’ presence felt and experienced in this world. Third, given the identity and relationship that we have with God, as His children, we are constantly called to holiness of life.

Thus, these 40 days of Lent are an opportunity given to us for turning back to God, for conversion. Through the help of the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, hopefully, we will come to acknowledge the ways we have turned away from God in our lives and we will focus on turning our hearts and minds back toward Him.

This Lent, may I suggest the following:

Prayer is the foundation of our spiritual life. Without prayer, no spiritual growth is possible. Prayer is simply talking to God and then quieting ourselves to listen for His response. Lent calls us in a practical way to carve out moments for prayer, to join the community in worship and to enter into the silence where God speaks to our hearts. I invite families to worship and pray together especially by attending Sunday Eucharist.

Fasting is the act of giving up something in order to develop spiritual discipline. One main meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Meatless Fridays, no sweets or chocolates: such are traditional fasting practices. But, fasting goes beyond just food and drink. Consider, instead, taking the time to pray words from the Scripture.

Almsgiving is the culmination of the Lenten disciplines, for through it we open ourselves up to God’s grace. Just as fasting is about “giving up,” almsgiving is about “giving to.” Whereas fasting is about saying no to ourselves, almsgiving is about saying yes to others. Through almsgiving, we conquer the temptation to seek real happiness in our possessions. Almsgiving most directly applies to giving financial and other material support to those in need, but it can also apply to spiritual needs. For instance, what if for each of the next six weeks, you chose a family member, coworker, or even a stranger and went out of your way to show some act of kindness. It can be as simple as helping with chores, or being mindful to saying thank you!

These 40 days of Lent will be filled with struggles and temptation, yet through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we anticipate the rich fruit of God’s blessing blossoming in our lives. May this Lent truly be a springtime of grace!

Fr. Chester