Lent 2007

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of another Lenten season. We participate in the Mass, listen to the readings, receive our ashes and begin our journey towards Holy Week.

Each year our family tries to give up something we enjoy as a sacrifice and we try to take on a positive action which we hope by the end of the forty days will have developed a good habit for us.

As a friend and I were talking on Wednesday about these annual rituals which are prevelant at her home as well, she offered a reflection. Christ too prepared for 40 days before He started His ministry and surely He prepared for His last Passover with prayer and fasting. What was He preparing for? In both cases He knew what awaited him at the end of His road in the earthly life.

With this full knowledge, He thought, spoke, taught, acted, prayed, laughed, and loved.

May be this Lent, that should be my focus. How would I live each week, each day, each hour of these 40 days if I knew that was all the time I had to set my life aright with God, with my spouse, with my children, and indeed with each human soul I meet?