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How To Have a Meaningful Lenten Experience

By March 5, 2017No Comments

From The Stewardship Committee

Lent is about becoming a better version of our self as we walk our life journey with Christ, through Lent and into the future. To do this, we need grace to help us.

Grace is the wonderful and powerful gift of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism says that grace is the free, undeserved help from God given to us so that we may respond to His call as His chosen ones. Real grace happens when we recognize that Lent is a season in which God wants to give us what we need to become better. Father Juan says that grace is the “gas” for our cars (bodies). Stepping up to God’s call during Lent can happen in the small moments of life, not just the bigger ones.

Here are some ideas for a holy Lent:

Pray. Set aside some time every day. Read and reflect on a passage from the Bible. Use Lenten prayer books and read each day. Pray the rosary daily – In a busy household, this can be done while folding clothes, cleaning, etc. In the workplace, we can pray during breaks, before meals, to and from work during the commute, etc. Read a psalm a day- they are wonderful ways to praise God.

Fasting is a means of emptying oneself in order to make more room for God in our heart. Giving up something for Lent, whether it is chocolate, soda, snacks, excessive TV, computer or phone use to name a few, allows us the opportunity to praise God’s glory, and unite with him as our Lord and Savior. The problem is after Lent we resume previous behaviors.

Consider something even better and more lasting. How about creating better personal habits especially the ones that can affect ourselves or others in a negative way? There has to be an honest evaluation by the person in the mirror, but with God’s grace, a person will be strong enough to face the challenge. Are you a pessimist?—try to be more positive. Are you a criticizer? – Try to be more encouraging. Is your style of parenting, or your family role more yelling than discussion?—try to dial it down. We are God’s chosen, so remember that HE is the fulfillment of all our desires. We are weak, but with God’s grace and strength, we can do great things.

Make time for the family. Be in the moment with your loved ones, put down the cell phones, etc., really listen, and have real eye contact.

Go to daily Mass, Stations of the Cross, and make Confession a reality.

Volunteer for worthy causes, especially activities sponsored by the parish. Give the gift of yourself.

Read about your favorite Saint. Continue to pray to the Saints we were given last month at church.

Pray for our Priests and the Pope. They need our prayers.

Forgive, forgive, forgive. If you are holding on to anger and resentment in your life, ask God to help you to forgive. Letting go of this can free your soul for more love.

Let us all embrace this Lent in a way that brings God’s love and mercy to each and every one.

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