Given what we have endured during the first two months of this year – a water shortage in the Richmond area, along with the snow, rain, ice, high winds and power outages in many parts of our diocese – we might feel as though we’ve already experienced the penitential part of Lent. Unlike last year, when Ash Wednesday was Feb. 14, Lent is just getting started.
Lent is commonly viewed as a somber, sacrificial time. As Ash Wednesday approaches, the often-asked question is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Sacrifice is certainly a big part of Lent, but this is also a time of paying attention to our sinfulness, expressing regret for sin and seeking reconciliation. It is summarized as a time for almsgiving, prayer and fasting.
In the sixth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus provides instruction for all three. Regarding almsgiving, he says, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them…” (Mt 6:1). For prayer: “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6). For fasting: “…do not look gloomy like the hypocrites” (Mt 6:16).
The private nature of each of these has led some people to see them as 40-day burdens to bear. However, there is a bit of a contradiction in the Church’s own reflections and writings on Lenten sacrifice. On the one hand, there is the penitential component in our observance, but on the other, there is an opportunity for a hopeful, joyful engagement.
Hope and joy may appear to be more applicable to Advent, but they also hold true for Lent. The Church reminds us that with hopefulness and anticipatory joy, we contend with the weaknesses in our lives, conduct our activities and deepen our relationships because we are holding firmly to what we know to be the resurrection of Our Lord.
In short, we can overcome anything because Jesus has redeemed us. Our Lenten sacrifices and our Lenten practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving are all done in the context of this salvation already won and granted to us by Christ.
That act changes the perspective of our sacrifices, extricating the drudgery and difficulty from them and transforming them into exercises that lead us to grow in our likeness to Christ – in turn, transforming us!
Our sacrifices, as challenging as they might be, can assist us in renewing and deepening our connection to Christ.
Spring will arrive in a couple of weeks. The word Lent comes from the Old English word “lencten,” which means spring season. We know that a penitential aspect of spring might include more rain, high winds and even another snowstorm. However, this is offset by it being a time for more daylight, warmer temperatures, shedding the winter doldrums and anticipating more enjoyable days.
As we commit ourselves to the almsgiving, prayer, fasting and penitential acts that are the foundation of Lent, let them lead us to a spiritual springtime – a time where we are renewed in our faith, dedicated to living the Gospel and ultimately embracing the new life that awaits at Easter.
Happy Lent!