Pope Francis once asked, how do you behave with people? How is my heart in front of people? I am I a hypocrite? Do I smile and then criticize or destroy others with tongue? He gave the first solution to this as prayer and the second was that when you feel the desire to talk about someone, you bite your tongue, strongly. Because it will swell and you will not be able to speak.
Lent is part of the rich history of the Catholic Church, dating back to the third century and Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter (not counting Sundays). The number 40 is so significant in the Bible for Moses fasted 40 days on Mt. Sinai, Elijah fasted 40 days on his way to the mountain of God, the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, and Jesus was in the desert for 40 days.
Lent is a time of penitence, mourning, solemnity and sadness. The mood is expressed in the colour purple for the season. Recently a 39-year-old Mozambican pastor died after attempting to fast for forty days like Jesus who was both Human and Devine did, Pastor Francisco Barajah was confirmed dead after fasting for 25 days without food and water. Faith and reason “fides et ratio” is key in practicing our faith because we are humans fighting for perfection from Jesus who did wonders because of his Divinity and Humanity.
Lent therefore should be a period of introspection and self-evaluation, a time of spiritual preparation. In the Bible, While the focus for the first week of Lent is traditionally on Jesus’ temptations, it is important to note that Jesus was strengthened by this wilderness time. Thus, Lent should be a time to focus on growing profoundly in our faith. Lent offers us the opportunity to slow down, enter our own “wilderness” to reflect, pray and find ourselves renewed in God’s presence. Lent is a time of reflection and renewal.
Often people will “give up something” for Lent, or “take on a discipline” or activity, this is really good because It is a time for Christians to consider how they live the word of God. The Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are one way in which Christians embody the values of justice, compassion (generosity) and the giving up of oneself(selflessness).
To me, since God is love, God and compassion are one and the same. Compassion is the joy of sharing and love in compassion in practice. It’s doing small things for the love of each other, just a smile, carrying a jerrycan of water, giving one mango to another or showing some simple kindness. These are the small things that makeup compassion. Compassion means sharing and understanding the suffering of people (Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
Dear friends, the holy Lenten season is now at hand, the time to Fast, Pray more and Give till it hurts. Cardinal Sarah once said “We should not be deceived with the word “mercy” for God forgives sins only if we repent of them”, it is therefore time to reconcile with neighbor and then with God and the time to live a virtuous life. I wish you a happy and fruitful Lenten Season.
The writer is EKALEET OLOK FRANK | Email: [email protected]
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