Lent is often called the blessed season; rightly so as it is a season of spiritual preparation and renewal. The Catholic church realizes that we as human may not truly appreciate the season of Lent if we just blitz through it in 3 days like what Jesus did in the Passion Death and Resurrection. Instead a preparation of 40 days is needed for both the individual and the church to prepare for this great mystery. Even Jesus prepared his disciples over a period and He himself went through 40 days of fasting and prayer to prepare Himself for the task at hand.
However I realize that in the season of lent, we ourselves face a spiritual darkness, or perhaps we are more aware of our own spiritual darkness. It is in this season, if truly observed and practiced brings to us an awareness of our sins. This awareness highlights the impact of our sins on our soul and our relationship with God. It is a painful awareness that in our failings and weaknesses, we distant ourselves from our Loving God.
No doubt that the focus of Lent is rarely on this spiritual darkness but instead on the Loving grace of God's mercy. The focus is instead using this spiritual darkness to lead us to a conversion of our hearts and minds, after being painfully aware of our sins. Rightfully so, as the focus of christ has always been on our salvation and not on the account of our sins and failings.
That is truly and rightfully the objective of Lent. I guess before we can truly appreciate something good, we need to experience what we are missing, then only we will appreciate the Gift Christ gave us on the cross.
This is also why the. Sacrament of reconciliation is so important during lent. It allows us to partake in the mysteries of lent in that short 10 mins , where we suffer for our sins when we confess, we die to our sins in the act of contrition , and we are resurrected again through the absolution given in confession.
No doubt lent is a beautiful season when taken seriously and practiced whole heartedly.
Regards ,
Lincoln Lee
Sent via BlackBerry from Maxis
