Lent is the time for change
Her question reminded me that we tend to focus on what we do for Lent. It is so much more important to focus on the purpose of Lent which is to turn away from our sins and become more faithful in living the Christian life. There is not much won in giving up sweets, beer, soft drinks or whatever. Maybe we will lose a few pounds. But much is won if each time we do our penance (like not having that beer), it reminds us that we need to change some things in our lives to become a better person and more like what God wants us to be. Of course, we don’t want to just be reminded of our need to change. We must change.
We all have our personal sins and failings. In our deepest heart we know that we need to change some of our ways. Lent is the time to do it. The penances we do remind us each time that we do them, “I need to repent. I need to change those sins to become a more faithful child of God and disciple of Jesus.”
Lent is an Old English word for “springtime.” Lent is a special 40 day period of time in which we are called to repent, to make changes in our lives to better conform to living the way Jesus teaches us to live. The image of springtime can help us focus on our need to clean out the shrubbery (the sins and failings) in our lives before spring (Easter) to enable new growth (loving God and our neighbors with new commitment and vigor) to spring up.
Our most important goal in life is to become more like Jesus. We accomplish that when we change our sinful ways and become more successful in living the Gospel life. St. Anthony of Padua preached, “Seek God’s kingdom above all else. Make it the most important thing in your life. Everything else must be sought in view of this kingdom.” I pray that Lent and the penances you do during Lent may help you to turn away from those sins which hold you back from loving God and your brothers and sisters in the human family as you should. May God help each of us to have a very fruitful Lent.
Fr. John
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