|
LENT
According to Biblical Tradition, Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai to receive the Law of the Covenant. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert to prepare Himself for His Public Ministry and Mission among the Jewish people. We Christians prepare ourselves to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Faith, celebrating our Lord's Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorification at the right hand of the Father, by a penitential season of 40 days.
Penance --- turning away from sin --- is part of the Christian philosophy of life. The way penance is done changes, but the basic concept itself can not be taken out of the Christian life. Penance has to do with sin and conversion of heart and of life-style. It is the inner aversion from evil in and around us, and a generous conversion to love God above all else which are the important elements of penance.
The means to achieve the inner conversion of mind and heart, the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and giving of alms (charitable works), should never be considered outdated. However, it is true that the importance of "works of penance" such as fasting, abstinence from meat and candy and dessert and alcohol, etc. during Lent may have been overemphasized in the past. They have little value in themselves, unless there is a real change of heart and mindset.
What should I give up during Lent is a personal decision, but it should be related to that inner aversion to sin and evil, and to a real conversion of heart and mindset toward God. "More fervent prayer, more generous in works of charity, more eager in celebrating the mysteries by which we are reborn, may we come to the fullness of grace that belongs to the Children of God." (Preface of Lent).
|
|
