Last Sunday was the Sunday of Forgiveness, as well as Cheesefare Sunday. This signals to us the start of the most solemn season in the Church, Great Lent. Last Sunday we read about how we must forgive one another (Matthew 6:14-21) as well as how we must be when we fast. This season we are called to repentance as well as forgiveness. As we journey towards that day when He died for us, we reflect on how despite our sins He still found us worthy of forgiveness. That should not be lost on us. And just as much as He forgave us, then we must show the same mercy to those who offend us.
This season as well we are called to fast. Fasting is a way of reminding us of what we should do; that is, to take off our inclinations to sin and sin itself. Fasting then is a start--if we can avoid certain foods during Lent, then we should be able to avoid sin as well. It goes without saying that when we fast, we do it in prayer. Fasting without prayer is merely dieting, and spiritually it does us no good if we fast without prayer. So fasting done in prayer and reflection helps us focus on our goal, that is Christ Himself. We pray that His mercy and forgiveness be with us. We pray that we have the courage to face ourselves and take off our sinful selves and put on Christ, as we have promised at baptism. We remember this season that we have to put on Christ as His followers.
But it shouldn't only be this season that we should reflect on these things. We are called to live this life daily. It should not only be at Lent that we remember this--and even that, if at all--but it must be part of our life every single day. So we ask for His grace that, everyday, we live our Christian life the way He wants us to live it. Then we are ready to be with Him, as we go on each day to be more like Him.
This season as well we are called to fast. Fasting is a way of reminding us of what we should do; that is, to take off our inclinations to sin and sin itself. Fasting then is a start--if we can avoid certain foods during Lent, then we should be able to avoid sin as well. It goes without saying that when we fast, we do it in prayer. Fasting without prayer is merely dieting, and spiritually it does us no good if we fast without prayer. So fasting done in prayer and reflection helps us focus on our goal, that is Christ Himself. We pray that His mercy and forgiveness be with us. We pray that we have the courage to face ourselves and take off our sinful selves and put on Christ, as we have promised at baptism. We remember this season that we have to put on Christ as His followers.
But it shouldn't only be this season that we should reflect on these things. We are called to live this life daily. It should not only be at Lent that we remember this--and even that, if at all--but it must be part of our life every single day. So we ask for His grace that, everyday, we live our Christian life the way He wants us to live it. Then we are ready to be with Him, as we go on each day to be more like Him.
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