By: Mike PietrusinskiAnother season of Lent is upon us...the time we set aside to get ready for Easter and our most solemn occasion of the year, Holy Week.
Many don't like this season as its very low key...in talking to some of my peers over the years, they don't like Lent as they don't like the somberness of the season. Perhaps they remember as children being forced to give something up and maybe going to church more often, not just for Mass but also for Stations of the Cross. They would just assume skipping the season altogether and moving right into Easter.
But that, to me, what Lent is about. Its a special time in which we're asked to take a deeper look at ourselves and see where we might improve in our relationships...not only with each other, but with God. In that way if we attempt to do this, then our celebration of Easter will be that much more joyful and meaningful.
In addition,. we should not make a big deal of our sacrifices and what we do during Lent. As the gospel on Ash Wednesday mentions, to do our sacrifices in secret...do not let others see what you're doing (fasting, giving to the poor) "...as your Heavenly Father will see it in secret and will repay you" (Matt 6:4b).
So don't let Lent be another 4-letter word...take some time this season for your spiritual health. Perhaps you might want to make an effort to get to Mass more often or carving out some time during the day just to sit and pray or meditate. Use this time to get yourself ready to walk with Jesus as we commemerate his Passion, Death, and Resurrection during Holy Week.
May you have a very Blessed and Holy Lenten Season!
I love this quote of taking "take some time this season for your spiritual health." So, often people are concerned with mental or physical health and forget about the spiritual health (although all are connected, this one is the most important one). So, this Lent and on, my goal is to do less, for my spiritual health, so I'll actually have time to reflect and listen to God.
ReplyDeleteI was asking my dear husband recently, "Why do you think we are always so darned busy?" And he replied, "To give our life meaning." But, overwork doesn't give life meaning and productivity shouldn't be the main "thing." I say, let’s go back to that philosophy, “Less is always more.”