By Ainish Philip
Lent is a time to prepare our hearts for repentance by making a change in our attitudes, words, and lifestyle. Just as football player may work at staying healthy and fit the whole year round but still give special attention to conditioning before the start of new training, same way we will find great spiritual benefits in setting aside a few weeks to give special attention to the state of our souls. Here are some ways we can grow in holiness this Lent season:
Prayer:
Imagine what pain would have gone through Jesus’ heart when He found people buying and selling and doing business in the temple of Jerusalem. Losing no time, He stated clearly, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’ (Mathew 21:13). Perhaps that is the reason St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that we are God’s temple and God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us. So if we are God’s own temple, what are we supposed to do? Keep the temple clean of any filth and make it an altar of sacrifice and prayer. As air is to the lungs, so must prayer be to our soul. If there is no air supply to the lungs, a person will die quickly. Same way, a person without prayer can easily fall prey to temptation and fall into mortal sin and lose God’s friendship!
Therefore, set time aside for personal prayer early in the morning. Pray before you travel, pray before meals, pray before taking your lessons, join in the family prayer, and pray before you sleep. In other words, make prayer a part of your life!
Fasting:
When nearby nations surrounded Judah to attack them, King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were terrified. What did King Jehoshaphat do? Did he make new plans with his generals concerning his enemies? Did he command his army to prepare for war? When faced with uncertainty and danger, Jehoshaphat “set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). As a result, God fought the battle for them and they won! That is what fasting does - brings a fresh spiritual insight by the power of the Holy Spirit to take the best possible route to glorify God in our suffering or problems. Anything we give up- for example, giving up texting, spending excessive time on the internet, watching TV, chocolates, eating out- something that we will miss from our daily routine is worth it!
Bible Reading: Lent is surely a time to improve on our Bible reading habit. We have no idea how Bible reading can change our lives for good! St. Antony of the Desert, while attending church services, heard one of the readings from the Bible. “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). Each word sank into his heart and he felt as if every word was directed to him personally. St. Anthony immediately went and sold all his possessions and gave them to the poor and took Bible reading seriously and lived a life of chastity and poverty.
Way of the Cross:
For many centuries, the Church has encouraged praying the Way of the Cross, especially at the time of Lent. It is said that whenever St Francis of Assisi would be tempted in any way, he would kneel down and pray the Way of the Cross! Blessed Pope John Paul II, for many years led a public prayer of the Stations of the Cross on Good Fridays in the Roman Colosseum - where many early Christians shed their blood. In fact, the Pope himself carried the cross from station to station. What a humble act! Walking our Lord’s journey from condemnation to cruc ifixion not only humbles us, but also creates a desire to avoiding temptations and sins. Find time for the Way of the Cross in Lent, not only on Fridays but whenever the Spirit prompts.
"We adore you O Christ and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world."
Holy Mass:
The best way to grow in the love of our Lord is to partake in the Holy Mass with faith and devotion. In the convent of the Missionaries of Charity of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta there is a beautiful quote on the wall that reads: “Celebrate this Mass as if it were your first Mass, last Mass and only Mass.” Let this be a reminder for us whenever we receive Holy Communion- that we will receive Jesus as if it were the first time, the last time and the only time.
Like Pope Benedict VI said, “Lent should be a time of joy!” Let us pray that this Lent truly turns out to be a time of joy in the Holy Spirit when we give our hearts to Jesus, turn away from all our sins, and grow in Holiness.
Stay in peace. Stay with Jesus.
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