The 2016 Lenten season begins tomorrow, February 10th. This marks the beginning of a journey. Every day of course is important, but the one’s during lent are extra special. Full of repentance, prayer, and fasting. The journey begins with Ash Wednesday, which is an amazing day to partake in, and an amazing way to kick off the rest of your Lent.
When you go to receive the ashes on your forehead you hear the words, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” You may have heard them spoken (or possibly you haven’t, and if not I recommend 10/10 to challenge yourself to), but have you ever thought about what they’re really saying? They’re what was spoken when Jesus began to preach. I was reading and article online that was spoken by Pope John Paul II, and he says it better than I ever could put into words-
“Yes. Today we need to hear the "you are dust and to dust you will return" of Ash Wednesday, so that the definitive truth of the Gospel, the truth about the Resurrection, will unfold before us: believe in the Gospel.
On the threshold of Lent, it is necessary that this perspective be opened before us, so that we may believe deeply in the Gospel with all the truth of our mortal existence.
We are called to take part in the Resurrection of Christ. For this appeal to resound within us with all its force at the beginning of the Lenten season, let us realize what death means... "You are dust" ... "Repent! ... Believe in the Gospel"! “
I came up with a list of ideas to maybe give you inspiration or direct uses of things to give up or take up for lent. I hope you choose to challenge yourself this season, and grow closer to Jesus every step of the way.
1.) Attend mass every Sunday if you do not already. If you do, that’s great! Now try going to at least one daily mass a week in addition, many parishes offer a service time before you have to be at work/school.
2.) Read the passages that’ll be read during mass, before mass. Familiarize yourself before you go in so you are fully prepared and ready to take in the homily. This’ll allow you to experience the reading in a much different way, more intimately.
3.) Prepare yourself to be able to take full advantage of Lent, go to confession. Start on a clean slate and work your way to becoming the best person you can be, the person God wants you to be.
4.) Attend Eucharistic Adoration. Even if you can only make it once. The more you go the more knowledge you’ll obtain, and going once is a good start. If your church’s times don’t fit into your schedule, adore without the monstrance in front of you. Go to a quiet place and meditate, adore.
5.) Research. As crazy as it sounds, research can be fun when it’s on a topic that actually interests you. I’ve found myself doing a lot of research on transfiguration lately and I thoroughly enjoy learning about it. Research about the Jubilee Year of Mercy Pope Francis started early this year. Find out why he started it early, what it even is, what purpose it serves. There’s so much to learn, it’s impossible to ever run out of things to learn about the church.
6.) While driving to your destination, turn on the Christian radio station, or even ride in silence. I’ve heard of so many people doing this and not once have I ever heard of it not having a positive effect.
7.) Once you get to your destination, sacrifice the best parking spot. Who knows how much you could’ve helped the next person out.
8.) Pray the rosary each day. If you can’t pray the whole rosary, pray a decade a day. This is something that is beneficial to the mind and soul. It allows yourself down time as it does meditation on the mysteries. This is an amazing way to kick off your day, or to end your day with, watching the sunset or sunrise.
9.) Fast. This is a very common one I feel like, giving up a certain food that you frequently eat is something I believe is a good sacrifice personally. You could also have water as the only liquid you drink. Also, instead of only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, don’t eat between any meals, ever. Which brings me to my next idea -
10.) Do not eat unless you are truly hungry. You can go weeks upon weeks without eating, but we find ourselves eating multiple times throughout the day. I am by no means saying don’t eat, because that of course isn’t healthy, just limit yourself. I know I personally find myself eating a lot purely out of boredom or because ice-cream sounds really good at the moment, but if you’re not hungry, don’t eat.
11.) Pray for your enemies. This may seem impossible, impossible to pray for them, or maybe impossible for them to change, but never doubt the power of prayer. It is the strongest healing power in the world for all reasons big or small.
12.) Be positive. Life is such a better experience when you’re smiling. Try to not let things get you down, make a point to always see the benefit of every situation. Happiness is contagious, in just a little over a month you could effect so many people. In the words of Mother Teresa, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
13.) Listen more, and talk less. By this I mean keeping quiet with gossip. This is one of the most challenging I personally would say. I always catch myself saying little things on input of a subject, when I would never say them if that person was right by me. A way to prevent this I’ve found is to not speak unless necessary, change/avoid the subject, or ask the people you are with if they could stop talking about others (I can only imagine how much I’d be stunned but how much respect I would gain for a person if I heard them say this.)
14.) Something that ties into gossiping is social media antagonization. If you can’t say it out loud, don’t let your typing fingers do the talking for you. Do not post something unless you find it will be beneficial or inspiring to read. If you’re having a problem with someone, take it up with them personally. Talk to them directly and you will find you accomplish a lot more this way.
15.) Thank God more for everything you’re given. Every second of life is a gift, put it to good use.
16.) Adventure more! Try to go outside your every day to day routine. Do extra or do less, just something to switch things up, something to get you out of your comfort zone every now and then. Getting a new perspective on thing can be refreshing.
Those are all the ideas I’ve heard or thought of, I hope you get some use out of them :). I also hope I did not offend anyone with the proposal of any of them, I’m not directing them at anyone. I have participated in each scenario, I am not trying to say I am above anyone. THANK YOU everyone for reading and I hope your lenten season is a GREAT experience!!
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