With the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, we recall the three themes of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. These should be part of our weekly life and not just during Lent. It is true during Lent we focus on these to enhance them in our lives. Maybe even get a jump-start on one of those aspects of our life, which has been lost or even put to the side because of other factors in our lives.
We do need to pray every day in our lives. We need to acknowledge God in our lives and that He is a person and we have a personal relationship with Him. Prayer every time does not need to be a long period of time. It can be just a few words or sentences acknowledging God in our lives. Of course, we cannot sustain a relationship without some longer time of prayer each day.
Fasting is a way to create discipline in our lives through self-control. We do need strong wills to be holy and live in God’s grace continually. It is a tradition to give something up during Lent, but we can also do something for Lent, which can also be strengthen our will.
Almsgiving is to recognize that our blessings are not only for ourselves, but also to share with others. In the scriptures, it gives us the direction of tithing (10%) back to God’s work through the Church or other charitable ways. Sometimes during Lent, people do without, then that money which is saved is given away to some cause.
There are reflections that may help us to live Lent that can be beneficial to us. Please also use the Black Books in church, which we have purchased for your Lenten use this year.