Preparing for Lent
Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday.
Going into Lent with spiritual momentum is helpful. In other words, giving our hearts time to prepare in the days leading into Lent can often help us enter into the season of Lent with greater intentionality, focus, and even desire.
We must ask ourselves, “What is the goal of Lent?” The goal of Lent is to prepare our hearts for the Resurrection of Jesus. We can most greatly enter into the season of Lent in three key ways. These are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Prayer is a conversation with God. During Lent, we should try to be more intentional about prayer. We can read scripture, attend Mass more frequently, and set aside more time for silent prayer with God. Prayer leads to greater union with God.
Fasting is an act of self-discipline in which we deny ourselves certain things. In doing so, the greater desires of the human heart begin to rise. When we discipline ourselves, we allow the greatest desires of the human heart to become louder. The greatest desire of the human heart is to spend forever in Heaven with our loving God, and in Lent, this great desire ought to be respected by self-disciplining lower desires.
Almsgiving draws us into greater charity. By giving alms, we give of ourselves through our time, treasure, and talents. Through the practice of almsgiving, we become more loving persons.
With just a few days before Lent, let us each take some time to discern what God calls us to through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Consider choosing one thing to practice in each of these three key areas: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
The goal of Lent is to prepare our hearts for Jesus's Resurrection. May we each come to know, love, and serve God with greater fervor this Lent through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Fr. Luke Daghir
