Dear Faithful Friends in Christ,
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING UP FOR LENT?
"For one pain endured with joy, we shall love the good God more forever." ---Saint Thérèse
(From: I Letter To Mother Agnes Of Jesus)
As Ash Wednesday draws near, we should not be dreading the season of sacrifice, but welcoming it with great joy. With great love for Christ we can endure our sacrifices. Oftentimes, in the modern world we forget what sacrifice truly is. Everything comes luxuriously at our fingertips with the press of a button and a click of a mouse and a swipe of a card and a "thank you have a nice day." We are a spoiled culture who forgets that Christ was born in a manger and He was the King of Kings. However, eternal salvation should prompt one not to forget such. We must forgo the luxuries of television, internet, chocolate covered bacon, and things that generally make our lives easily comforted. Comfort is not Franciscan. Comfort is not what will get you through this life and into the next. The more you pamper yourself the more you need to check yourself. A big house does not equate getting into Heaven, neither do material possessions. You must remember your soul and that eternal salvation should be your number one priority. Lent is a time to not just give up chocolate or sodas. Lent is the time to spiritually reflect upon what it means to do God's Will and what it means to understand what Christ endured for us and for our eternal life. Christ was God's Son and HE DIED FOR US ALL. Christ was the Lamb who entered into our fallen world to offer us salvation. HE DIED FOR US ALL, is the reflection to which should prompt us to pray and reflect during Lent. It should encourage you to live like a true disciple of Christ. Christ dying for us all is the remembrance of love, His PASSION.
Also, it should take you out of your comfortable routine and get you to do things you normally do not do. Perhaps, donate some time to helping someone in your community or donating clothes you really do not need anymore. Give your time to prayer, devotions to saints, or spiritual readings rather than recreational activities. Remember, sacrifice is about giving and living without praise and reward.
As we begin our journey through the desert, do not forget that you are being tested to see if the seeds planted within you by the Divine Sower will bear fruit. Those sown on the wayside, on a rock, or under thorns will easily fall short by the distractions of this world. Those whose seed has fallen onto "good ground, who are of an honest and good heart, and having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Luke 8. 4-15)
We have some questions for you to answer this week, considering we get readers from all over the world. We would very much like to hear from all of you!
1.) What are some family traditions that your family partakes in during lent?
2.) Do you spend your evenings reading a special reflection book or parts of your missal?
3.)Do you pray a special devotion (as a family or by yourself)?
4.) What are you giving up for lent and adding on?
5.) Any good fasting recipes?
Warmest regards before Lent begins,
Cade and Nicole
