Wednesday,
26 February 2020 has been marked as Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season
of Lent. Christians during this season, devote themselves to fasting, prayer,
alms giving and abstinence.
Fasting
means reduction of the amount of food that is taken during the day as a way of
following the teachings of Jesus. Prayer is the act of worship to call on God
in his mercy and compassion. Alms giving mean sharing your goods with the less
fortunate and poor.
In
Matt. 6:1-6 and 16 – 18, Jesus fasted for forty days.
Lent
begins with Ash Wednesday and on this day, Christian’s celebrate the period by
going to Church to celebrate the mercy and Compassion of God. As a sign of
repentance and sorrow for sins committed, Christians mark themselves with ashes
on their foreheads.
The
priest who signs them with ashes reminds them of their unworthiness in these,
words: “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”
Everything
that Christians do during Lent is done out of sorrow for sin and the
willingness to change and be converted in heart and conduct of their lives to
turn to God. They are to be touched by repentance in their hearts. Any action
done without the purpose of effecting within the Christian heart, a lasting
repentance is not in line with the spirit of Lent. On many occasions, it is the
eagerness to satisfy the body and its cravings that leads to the offence
against God.
The
prayers, fasting and penance that is done during lent is done in union with the
Lord Jesus. In imitating Jesus who fasted and was tempted but did not sin, the
Christian believer is restored in the body to the original dignity with which
God created the body. The Christian prayer in union with Jesus is for Him to
render his grace to all who observe the Lenten season so that they may
experience conversion.
It
is therefore necessary that as we devote ourselves to the Lenten season, we do
it with sincerity and hearts dedicated to God. We do not indulge ourselves into
doing things and observing fasting, prayer and penance for people to see and
know that we are doing things. Christ in his words admonishes us:
“Be
careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by
doing this you will lose all reward from your father in heaven,” (Mathew 6:1).
May
we wish each other a happy and prayerful Lenten season. And may God grant us
all the blessings of his compassion and mercy and answer our prayers.
Author:
Fr. Edu Gomez -
