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February 6thPreparation for Lent Ash Wednesday, which ushers in the holy season of Lent, is this Wednesday. We prepare our hearts by deepened prayer, fasting and almsgiving, so as to have a reawakened and expanded heart to receive the graces poured out upon us by Jesus at Easter. Lent is a season of Penance. Many of us see this as a negative, gloomy thing, where we make ourselves miserable to show God how truly sorry for our sins. But the original and true meaning of penance is positive and about joy! We cannot be filled by God until we are empty of ourselves: that is, our self-centeredness, the agendas and plans we make for our lives and our family members’ lives without seeking God’s Will first, our addictions, our lukewarmness and indifference, our need to over-control. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are spiritual lessons in giving up control; they help us move from having our lives revolve around ourselves to inviting God to be at the center; to put God in the driver’s seat! Lent helps bring us back to a place of J-O-Y! Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last! May our observance of Lent this year invite Jesus more fully into our lives and draw down the Holy Spirit’s blessings for true renewal and repentance in our world. |