merry lent y'all!

Everyone I have brushed elbows with gets everything set for Christmas come the 12^th month of the year but I have never met anyone who is as thrilled about Lent.

 

When we speak of Lent, we think of sweltering processions, the wearing station of the cross, a really really long celebration of Mass and staying in a searing church for other Holy week services. For most of us, this is also the time of the year when we are compelled to fast on doing something we like and to not eat meat (oh, meat!) on Fridays.

 

Some people fast because they think they can coerce God into giving them what they pray for (or demand) in exchange of the effortless (and legendary) not eating meat on Fridays, others go on vacation and splurge on a bed of roses in the land of milk and honey thinking pristine white beaches can get them reflecting about the trespasses they’ve made. A few conscience-stricken, however, goes out to tell the world how penitent they are by literally carrying a big wooden cross the way Jesus did on His way to Calvary. Okay, I get the point, we are gifted with free will to choose whichever way to go and in this case, what form of penitence to offer but still, these got me thinking. Do we really have to do these when we don’t even know (or at least, remember) the very essence of Lent and the reason why we observe it in the first place?

 

Lent comes from a Middle English word that means springtime. Thus, more than a season of slipping away from our old (and sinful) selves, this is also the time for spiritual growth and renewed life. 

 

God does not actually want much from us. He does not demand us to starve to death, carry a hefty rood on the streets let alone be nailed on the cross. Why would He want these for His beloved children when offering His Son’s life for our salvation is more than enough? We just have to simply put our palms together and place them near our chest, kneel or genuflect, and talk intently to Him to ask forgiveness for our wrongs and cleanse our hearts and minds from everything that contends with Him.  This way, our desires and zeal will be realigned with His and we will be brought to His lap. And hey! We can do this in the comforts of our own home.  After all, THE SECRET OF BEING A SAINT IS TO BE A SAINT IN SECRET.

 

If only I am able to at least get you thinking about what I am fulminating about here, then Lent would surely be a thrilling season we can look forward to. Have a Happy Lent, everyone!