Lent is not merely a ritual season but a sacred opportunity for renewal and transformation. It invites us to step into the desert with Christ, seeking repentance, discipline, and deeper intimacy with God.
In Baruch (1:5–6), we read how, during their Babylonian exile, the Jewish people expressed repentance. These words summarize the penitential discipline of God’s people since ancient times.
Lent is a season of reboot and reset. Like our gadgets, our lives can become overloaded, requiring us to delete whatever prevents God’s love from entering our hearts. We are sinners in need of repentance, but we are never unforgivable. Going to Confession before Ash Wednesday is ideal preparation for Lent. Confession is not merely about stating our sins; it is about allowing God to touch our restless hearts through His Anointed One. In Confession, we receive guidance and healing. Sharing and discussing your struggles in depth with your confessor is important. Make an appointment and go prepared if you truly desire spiritual renewal.
Lent is a desert experience, not a picnic—so pack accordingly. Arm yourself with a mindset that helps you embrace the lifestyle changes you wish to make. Desert life is marked by silence and the absence of distractions. Challenge yourself to recreate this experience at home by reducing entertainment and unnecessary noise. A complete detox from social media (unless required for work), suspending OTT subscriptions, and cutting down on unnecessary shopping—especially during sales—can work wonders in helping you focus more on God.
There are two approaches to Lent:
A) Skirting around it with inconsequential sacrifices.
B) Taking it seriously, with no middle path—making it purposeful rather than hypocritical, not performing for others, but allowing God to love and transform us.
Enter Lent with divine joy and freshness, seeking ways to strengthen your often fragile relationship with God, so that you may bear abundant fruit. Lent should not be viewed merely as a dry season, but as one of productivity. Look around and notice how trees sprout new leaves during this time, coinciding with spring. Renewal follows pruning.
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the constant refrain of Lent. Some may ask, “Shouldn’t we practice these daily?” Of course we should. Yet Holy Mother Church, aware of human weakness, sets aside special seasons so that we do not neglect these essential disciplines altogether.
While the value of prayer is obvious, how do fasting, abstinence, and almsgiving lead us toward holiness? When we make small sacrifices that cause discomfort, we learn detachment from the things we may love more than God. Prayer can feel difficult because it touches the soul deeply. Yet we must persevere. Jesus did not say if you pray, but when you pray. Prayer is a privilege; through it, we enter the presence of Christ and lay our petitions before Him. In prayer, do not focus solely on material blessings or physical healing. Instead, ask for spiritual gifts—greater forgiveness, deeper love, joy in all circumstances, and strength to endure suffering.
The forty days of Lent recall our Lord’s forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness, where He battled the devil (Luke 4:1–13). Ash Wednesday is not merely an obligation to be fulfilled. The ashes placed on our foreheads symbolize remorse and humility. Ashes remind us of our mortality: “For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). They signify that sin stains us and that we need cleansing through God’s grace.
Frequent participation in the Eucharist allows God’s Word to calm our inner chaos and transform us. Spending time before His Presence helps us recognize His authority of love and mercy—not domination or fear. Participate actively in Lenten programs; we never know when or how God may speak to us.
Do not let Lent be defined only by “No.” Let it also be filled with “Yes.” Yes to love. Yes to charity. Yes to kindness. Yes to smiling more, greeting others warmly, raising our heads from our phones to acknowledge those we meet. Joyful Lent is possible when we see it not as dreary or burdensome, but as a wholehearted “Yes” to God and His love.
Above all, beware of the Deceiver. Satan tempts us with subtle thoughts: “God will understand if you skip this… He knows it’s hard… You tried, but you failed—don’t worry.” While God is merciful, these whispers often lead us away from perseverance and conversion.
This Lent, do not give Satan a chance. Fix your eyes on God. Enter the desert with courage, discipline, and joy—and allow Him to transform your heart.
