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Sunday, March 09, 2003 Page: 1B
Many Christians began the Lenten season Wednesday by marking their
foreheads with ashes in the sign of the cross. This unusual tradition recalls
our mortality: “We are dust, and unto dust we shall return.” Making the sign
of the cross with ashes also links us to Jesus as we remember his suffering
and death during the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day spiritual journey for these Christians, marked by prayer,
fasting and almsgiving, that leads to the celebration of Easter. It originated
as the time of preparation for those who wished to join the church. Each
Easter, new Christians were welcomed into the flock by baptism, which they
prepared for through study, prayer and good works. Often the rest of the
Christian community would join these newcomers in their Lenten practices as a
sign of solidarity. Now Lent is common to all the Christian faithful as a
preparation for Easter.
As a young boy, I never understood that Lent was such a preparation. I only
knew it meant we couldn’t eat meat on Fridays. Abstaining from meat on Fridays
is the most well-known Lenten practice, and since no fish of any sort has
passed my lips in 30 years, you can understand that I was not a great fan of
Lent.
Lent, however, is not meant to be easy. It is a dark, penitential season
that challenges us to acknowledge our sins and repent. It focuses on
conversion, turning from sinful ways back to God. Throughout the next few
weeks many Catholic Christians will seek out the sacrament of reconciliation,
or confession.
Lent also is about sacrifice, giving up something you love for more than a
month and hoping to grow in self-discipline and show your love for God. People
all around us are denying themselves candy, cigarettes, beer, soda and other
pleasures for the sake of their spiritual lives. I applaud their efforts, for
many will truly struggle to keep their Lenten promises throughout the 40 days.
All those who despise fish or struggle with their Lenten sacrifices can
take comfort in the fact that nothing worth doing is ever easy. I’ve seen many
people who, by truly living the spirit of Lent, have transformed their lives.
Often the transformation outlasts the season of Easter and positively affects
the rest of their lives.
Lent also is a time of prayer. While sacrifice is often seen in a negative
light, Lent’s prayers are magnificent. I’ve always been amazed how attendance
at daily Mass doubles during the Lenten season and our churches fill up for
celebrations of the Stations of the Cross. Many churches also perform a Living
Way of the Cross where church members take part in a re-enactment of Christ’s
last days.
A third element of the Lenten season, almsgiving, is perhaps the least
recognized, yet equally important. Lent is a time of charity when we reach out
to others in need. By helping others we show that we are truly following the
way of Christ.
When we find that we consistently put the needs of others before our own,
then we are truly ready to celebrate Easter.
Father Bob Timchak is the pastor of Transfiguration Church in West Hazleton
and SS. Peter & Paul Church in Hazleton.