A Time for Spiritual Renewal
We welcomed 2020 nearly two months ago already. If you are like most people, on January 1st you resolved to eat healthier, lose weight, and exercise more. How are those New Year’s resolutions going for you? Maybe you have been successful and cut out soda and lost a few pounds. Or, like so many, the new year enthusiasm quickly faded away.
The good news is this next Wednesday we have another opportunity to try again; this time in a spiritual sense. Christians throughout the world will begin the observance of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 26th. The pillars of Lent consist of prayer, penance, and almsgiving. For many people, it is a time for another chance at making a holy resolution. For some, this resolution takes the form of penance, giving up a morning cup of coffee or sweets throughout the season of Lent. This is the fasting component of the season. Besides giving something up, consider also how you wish to pray throughout the 40 days of Lent and how you wish to give alms to the poor.
The opening prayer for Ash Wednesday Mass in the Catholic tradition says, “Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.” The season of Lent is a time for us to focus on spiritual renewal and allow God to take prominence in our life. Arm yourself with spiritual weapons—read the scriptures, read spiritual books, pray from the heart, defeat evil, and take on a penance. Allow Lent to become a time of spiritual renewal this year. And ask God to grant success to your Lenten plans, so it does become a missed opportunity like many of our New Year’s resolutions.
Rev. Edward Looney pastors the Catholic communities of Brussels, Lincoln, and Rosiere. He is the author of A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary.
The good news is this next Wednesday we have another opportunity to try again; this time in a spiritual sense. Christians throughout the world will begin the observance of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 26th. The pillars of Lent consist of prayer, penance, and almsgiving. For many people, it is a time for another chance at making a holy resolution. For some, this resolution takes the form of penance, giving up a morning cup of coffee or sweets throughout the season of Lent. This is the fasting component of the season. Besides giving something up, consider also how you wish to pray throughout the 40 days of Lent and how you wish to give alms to the poor.
The opening prayer for Ash Wednesday Mass in the Catholic tradition says, “Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.” The season of Lent is a time for us to focus on spiritual renewal and allow God to take prominence in our life. Arm yourself with spiritual weapons—read the scriptures, read spiritual books, pray from the heart, defeat evil, and take on a penance. Allow Lent to become a time of spiritual renewal this year. And ask God to grant success to your Lenten plans, so it does become a missed opportunity like many of our New Year’s resolutions.
Rev. Edward Looney pastors the Catholic communities of Brussels, Lincoln, and Rosiere. He is the author of A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary.
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