OUr Lenten jOurney
The Church in Her wisdom gives us seasons- just like our natural world that cycles through the seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter, our journey of faith has seasons too. During Advent we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s Incarnation and remember that He will come again; Christmas is not one day but several weeks of celebrating Christ’s birth and remembering that he is born again in each one of us; Ordinary Time is not so ordinary- we learn how to become better disciples of Christ; Easter is a great 50 day long celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and Lent helps us to prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.
How? Lent is like spring. During the spring, gardeners will prune the dead branches of their plants so that new life can spring forth and blossom. Lent is our opportunity to prune what is “dead” in our life, so that new life in Christ can spring forth with the celebration of Easter.
How? Lent is like spring. During the spring, gardeners will prune the dead branches of their plants so that new life can spring forth and blossom. Lent is our opportunity to prune what is “dead” in our life, so that new life in Christ can spring forth with the celebration of Easter.
We spend 40 days fasting and abstaining from certain foods and activities and redirecting our focus on being true disciples of Christ- working to follow him better and imitate his ways in our life- being more merciful, forgiving, generous, and loving to others. A lot of people will focus on what they are “giving up” but not on what this sacrifice is meant to do.
When we are young children our parents may encourage us to give up a favorite treat as a way to learn about sacrifice, but then when Lent came to an end, we’d go back to that treat. |
Try “giving up” something you don’t want to go back to on Easter Sunday. Give up an activity, a bad habit, a negative attitude- that is hurting your relationship with God and others. And in place of it, DO something. Do something that is going to help you grow in virtue and grow closer to God. One year I was struggling with what to give up for Lent and my mother advised me to give up nagging my brother. Huh?! I thought that was what older sisters were supposed to do to their little brothers!!! Apparently not.
I bit my tongue a lot that Lent, but as Lent went on, it became easier to not nag and instead give a compliment or encouraging word. It was what I consider to be my first “successful” Lent- I did not return to the habit of nagging my brother when Easter rolled around, and to this day I don’t nag him. The fruit of giving up nagging is that we have a better relationship and I grew in virtue- realizing that it is just as easy to compliment as it is to nag.
I bit my tongue a lot that Lent, but as Lent went on, it became easier to not nag and instead give a compliment or encouraging word. It was what I consider to be my first “successful” Lent- I did not return to the habit of nagging my brother when Easter rolled around, and to this day I don’t nag him. The fruit of giving up nagging is that we have a better relationship and I grew in virtue- realizing that it is just as easy to compliment as it is to nag.
Act of Faith |
Lent is coming up soon- the first day on our 40 day journey of growing in virtue and in our relationship with God starts on Ash Wednesday. On this day we attend Mass and receive ashes on our foreheads. As the ashes are placed on our foreheads we will hear either: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are a symbol of our desire to repent of our sins and to turn to God. They are also a reminder that the things of this world will pass away- like dust. We should be more concerned and focused on our eternal souls than the things of this world.
Almsgiving is another aspect of Lent and this spiritual growth we are trying to accomplish. Almsgiving is, simply put, freely giving to another person. Traditional almsgiving is giving to those with material needs- food, clothing, money, etc. But almsgiving can also be spiritual- in my example of not nagging my brother- I gave him compliments instead. |
Act of Hope |
Act of Love |
Over the next few weeks talk with your family about what you can DO this Lent. What virtues do you need to grow in? Do you need to be more patient, kind, positive, more humble??? Focusing on where you need growth, can help you determine what you need to “prune” or give up this Lent. Also talk about your prayer life. What can you DO to grow in your relationship with God? You could start praying the Rosary regularly, go to Adoration, pray the Stations of the Cross, read the Bible more faithfully, or go to Mass during the week (in addition to Sunday Mass). What can you DO to help someone else?
Commit this Lent to giving up a bad habit, doing good for someone else and to spending more time with God.
Please watch the videos and then click the link to share your plan for your Lenten journey this year with Mrs. Neis.
Commit this Lent to giving up a bad habit, doing good for someone else and to spending more time with God.
Please watch the videos and then click the link to share your plan for your Lenten journey this year with Mrs. Neis.
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