We are well aware that the season of Lent spans for 40 days; and these 40 days find mention in the Holy Bible in many places before significant events followed. In particular, we remember how Jesus Himself went into the wilderness and fasted and prayed for 40 days, overcame many temptations and then began His public ministry which culminated with His Passion, Death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection.
In the Holy Catholic Church we have this period of time each year to dwell on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind. It is also a period for personal reflection through the pillars of Lent which involve Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.
Many Christians make use of this time to prepare themselves to celebrate the feast of the Resurrection by various spiritual exercises, especially by attending daily Mass, going regularly for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, attending retreats, participating in the Way of the Cross, personal prayers and reading the Holy Bible more diligently.
Through these various spiritual exercises, individuals purify themselves. Gradually a spiritual cleansing happens by the discipline of fasting from food and other distractions through entertainment or social media.
It is a good time to also reflect on certain shortcomings and individual weaknesses of the flesh and to seek God’s grace in overcoming them through prayer by seeking God’s help in identifying these areas. Here we find a true sense of participating in the building of our spirit being through self denial.
As we continue to strengthen our spirit being by bringing the physical being into discipline, we become testimonies of God’s grace and in this way proclaim the message of Jesus Christ as worthy vessels of His sacrifice on the Cross for our salvation.
We pray that our discipline as Christians does not get limited to these 40 days alone but serves as a platform of preparation for it to continue throughout our journey on earth as pilgrims of hope, thus making it a daily routine to purify , participate and proclaim God’s goodness to everyone through our life’s choices.
