Forty Days and Forty Nights
The Holy Season of Lent began four days ago on Ash Wednesday. The ashes were blessed, sprinkled with Holy Water and placed on our heads. The priest or minister said to us ’Repent, and believe in the Gospel ’ or Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’. A stark reminder that one day we will no longer be present physically on this earth. There is nothing quite like a reality check to focus our attention on God!
The first reading this Sunday is taken from Genesis. ‘ The Lord God formed man from dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’. So Adam and Eve were made from dust. This followed by the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden to take the forbidden fruit. The serpent was very crafty by gradually talking Eve into this by justifying the actions, making excuses. Sometimes we are good at doing this too—justifying our actions which we know to be wrong. Lent is a time to reset our lives. To simplify our complicated ways of living and focus on God. All major faiths encourage fasting and abstinence as spiritual disciplines. This year the Islamic season of Ramadan commences around the same time on the evening of Shrove Tuesday, which is also the Chinese New Year.
We will give up something that we will miss or particularly enjoy. We can put a positive spin on this by combining it with acts of almsgiving. Money saved while fasting can be donated to those in need. There are many excellent Catholic charities that reach out to those in need in this country and the wider community that would benefit from our time and talents. Do consider being generous with your time this Lent.
Fasting, abstinence and almsgiving all bring us closer to God. There is one more thing we need to do, to be truly close to God—prayer. There are opportunities to pray the Stations of the Cross or to join a faith sharing groups. Why not consider praying The Liturgy of The Hours/Divine Office? Ask one of the clergy if you are interested in doing this,. Perhaps spend time in silent prayer?
With every blessing,
