Hard to believe Lent is less than a month away. I hadn’t really given it much thought until I saw the post about putting in my order for fastnachts. I’m looking forward to these delicious tasty treats but I’m not sure I’m ready for the somber, heavy feeling that often comes with Lent. Yes, the end result is the resurrection of Our Savior, Alleluia! But getting there was filled with pain, darkness, fear and doubt.

Lent is a time for reflection, a time of prayer, a time of fasting and a time of giving but not everyone’s Lent will look the same. Yes, as Catholics, we are required to give up meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, but the sacrifices we make and the activities we participate in will be influenced by where we are spiritually, physically and emotionally. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to “what will you be doing for Lent”. What’s important is that you do something to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and deepen your relationship with God.

Some folks will be blessed with an incredible Lenten experience. Others will struggle to just get through (that was me last year) and most will have their ups and downs. Don’t be disheartened if things don’t go as you had hoped. Give it to God in prayer. Reflect on His grace and blessings and how to get closer to him. God will meet you where you are. He wants you to grow in His love and mercy. We are given this time to prepare our hearts, souls and minds for the Resurrection of His Son on Easter Sunday.

With all the chaos in the world, now is the perfect time to refocus and recenter. My mind is tired, clouded and crowded. It needs some quiet time and truthfully, so do I. I have quite a bit to think about: How can I be an answer to someone’s prayer? How can I become closer to God? How am I being called to serve? Am I treating others with the same grace and dignity God provides to me? Do others see Christ in me? Am I grateful for all of the gifts God has given me?

Fasting

Fasting is typically associated with food or drink. Over the years, that’s the route I took for Lent. I’ve given up soda, meat, potato chips and sweets. At the time, they were staples in my diet so it made sense. Had I only had them on occasion, would it really have been a sacrifice? Not really.

Several years ago, I started to look at fasting in a different way. I moved away from “physical” fasting to fasting that provided a more intrinsic value. So, what are things outside of food and drink we can fast from?

Social media, video games, binge watching Netflix, buying things you really don’t need, going out to eat on a regular basis, commenting negatively, cruelly or insensitively on social media posts, gossiping or worrying. Challenge yourself to think outside the box. Instead, listen to an inspirational audiobook, a Catholic podcast (e.g. Bible in a Year or Rosary in a Year), subscribe to the Hallow prayer app (you can get a free trial), change your Sirius XM station to the Catholic channel (129) or a Christian music station.

Go to daily mass if this isn’t something you currently do. Many parishes have Lenten missions this time of year, attend and embrace the opportunity. Attend stations of the cross or walk the outdoor stations at a nearby church. Reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. We all have crosses. Who is helping to carry your cross? Who can you be a Veronica to? When we’ve fallen, have we gotten back up? Remember, Jesus fell three times and we will too.

We are all called to be Saints! And there are patron saints for just about anything you can think of :); gas station workers, the internet and even fear of wasps. Learn about a saint you are unfamiliar with. Check out the calendar of saints below to see whose feast day it is. Reflect on their life and what you can do to live a more saintly one.

https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php

http://www.easterbrooks.com/personal/cal_v2/index.php

Make an effort to fill your time (and yourself) with positive, inspirational and thought provoking content.

Prayer

Prayer should already be a regular part of our day so when Lent comes around it’s about expanding that prayer. While there are a series of traditional prayers we have all learned and memorized, prayer doesn’t have to be that formal all the time.

You can pray virtually anywhere! (Carol C. Moore – 2020)

You can pray in a car or in a bed

Out loud or in your head

In the dark or at a park

At a church or swinging from a birch

In a group or on a stoop

In a boat or with a goat

In a house or out and about

By yourself or with someone else

With a rosary or your family

You can pray here or you can pray there,

You can pray virtually anywhere!

During Lent, challenge yourself in how, what, when, where and who you pray for.

Pray for your enemies and those who don’t believe the same as you. Reflect on how much Jesus loves them. Don’t pray for them to change how or what they think or that they will come around to believe the same as you. Pray they will hear the Lord’s words, will be guided by his grace and that you will be open to different points of view. Remember, we are all created in His likeness and image. God loves them as much as he loves you!

Take a walk, notice the simple things: the song of a bird, the warmth of the sun, the sound of the rippling water in the creek, the view of a beautiful sunset. Enjoy the nature and all of God’s creation. Thank God for the beautiful day and for always being there to listen.

Pray an intentional rosary. Yes, all rosary prayers should be intentional, but think of a specific intention for each of the 50 beads of the decades. Don’t think you can come up with 50 things to pray about? Then start with a specific intention per decade/mystery and work your way up. Trust me when I say it’s not that hard to come up with 50 things 🙂

Go to Adoration and spend time with the Lord. It doesn’t have to be an hour. It can be a quick hello, thank you or I need your help. Start small and work your way up! Just sit. Embrace the quiet. Allow your ears to be open to the what God is telling you. This is your one-on-time with your Father. Take advantage of it!

St. Mary’s Adoration scheduleSt. Mary’s (Pylesville, MD) Adoration Schedule

Perpetual adoration chapels in the Harrisburg Diocese:

https://www.hbgdiocese.org/liturgy-worship-and-prayer/eucharistic-adoration/

Adoration sites in the Archdiocese of Baltimore:

https://www.archbalt.org/aob-eucharistic-revival/adoration-sites/

Start a prayer journal or create a prayer jar. Write down the things you’ve prayed about. Note the prayers that were answered. At the end of Lent, review it. We all have so much to be grateful for. Reflect on those things that weren’t answered the way you wanted. What were the blessings from that?

Lay a flower at the foot of Our Lady. Thank her for saying “yes” to God and for the gift of her Son. Thank her for being such an amazing role model and loving mother.

Pick a person each day. Offer your thoughts, actions and prayers for them throughout the day.

Start every day with gratitude. Thank you Lord for waking me up this morning. Thank you for blessing me more than I deserve. Help me to be the best version of myself today and may others see me as your child. Use me, a humble sinner for Your good.

Giving

If you are giving up something for Lent that you can quantify (i.e. going to Starbucks everyday and knowing the price of that macchiato) save that money and give it to a charity or a family in need. But remember that giving doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary.

Spend time decluttering or cleaning out a closet, cabinet or basement. Donate any unused items to a homeless shelter, women’s home or other charity. Pray over the donations asking the Holy Spirit to get these things to those who need them.

Give your time and talents. Volunteer at your parish or in your local community. Do something for someone else (outside of your immediate circle). Write a letter or send a message or email each day telling someone how much they mean to you and how grateful you are they are a part of your life. Call someone you don’t talk to on a regular basis. Open your mind and you will see that the options are endless!

I have a rough plan for how I will be spending my Lent (yes, I am a type “A”) and will be sharing throughout. I will be praying for all of you and hope that you will be an interactive part of this transformational journey. Please share what you are doing for Lent. It may be just the inspiration someone else needs (including myself)!

Have a blessed day and a reflective and fruitful Lent!