Lent: A Time of Preparation

Lent is a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Why do we want to prepare? Well, in order to understand what we are celebrating, the institution of the Blessed Sacrament at the Last Supper, Jesus' suffering and death on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and His Resurrection at Easter, in order to fully comprehend all that, the soul needs preparation. This preparation may come in several forms. During Lent we talk about mortification and sacrifice, fasting and abstinence. if we put some effort into all of this and if we raise our consciousness to God in daily prayer, we are preparing the soul for a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus, with God!

Jesus wants us to be like children in relation to Him, yet we talk to Him (pray) as adults most of the time. I am not saying this isn't valid but Jesus made it quite clear how he wishes us to pray, to speak to Him in an intimate way. Prayer with and to Jesus should always be a loving communication as in our earthly existence from one friend to another or like a family chat!

I recommend that you use the season of Lent to get to know your inner self and to strengthen your prayer-relationship with Jesus. When we do so, He will reward us with a deeper understanding of the mysteries of our Faith and we will learn even more about His eternal love for us.

Have a very special and spiritually rewarding season of Lent!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
2024

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