As we begin this season of Lent we recognise that we are on a journey of the heart. 

‘Lent’ comes from an old anglo saxon word ‘lencten’, meaning “springtime”. Springtime is often seen as a time of spring cleaning, a time when we get rid of all that we’ve accumulated. This can be a bit like us in our Christian journey. Lent is a time to do a bit of a spring cleaning of our hearts, because our heart gets cluttered and a bit messy, and like our homes, our heart needs cleaning too! So God in His graciousness and the Church in her wisdom, has given us this 40 days of spring cleaning.

We begin Lent by opening our hearts more to God. Lent is a gracious and beautiful time, it’s a journey to our Father’s heart. God, who loves us as His own beloved sons and daughters, wishes us to fill our lives with goodness, wisdom, forgiveness, love, kindness, tenderness. These are the things we are trying to grow in during this “springtime” cleaning.

In the scriptures, Jesus gives us prayer, fasting and self denial (or almsgiving) as three areas to grow in during Lent. Jesus says that when we pray, fast and give of ourselves for others, we are not to do these things to draw attention to ourselves, but we must do them in secret and our Father will reward us. Lent calls us to be selfless and look towards the other. It’s a way of disciplining ourselves and allowing ourselves to be people who are Christ-like, spirit-filled and loved by the Father.

When we fast, rather than thinking about what we are giving up, we might think instead what we are gaining. We are gaining strength, character, a selfless spirit, and much love, goodness and grace. We might give up our chocolates and our coffee, and we might also consider fasting from gossip, anger, sin - all those habits it’s so easy to fall into.

In growing in prayer this Lent, we might choose to pray the rosary, say the beautiful Catholic morning and night prayers, spend time in Adoration, or maybe attend an extra Mass during the week.

Whatever we do with self denial and almsgiving, giving of our time, our talent and our resources cheerfully, is key. 

Let’s pray for the Spirit to inspire and move us this Lent.