Gospel Matters: The Lenten race has begun!

By Dr Christine E. Wood, Director, Office of Evangelisation & Catechesis

The Lenten fast has begun. It may seem like a never-ending marathon but we mustn’t give up. We must run the race to the finish. Many Christians before us have embraced the Lenten fast with great enthusiasm, forgoing alcohol, dairy, and protein for forty days. Fruit and vegetables were their main source of sustenance. This serious penance provided the opportunity for growth in the spiritual life. Tempering the desires of the flesh enabled spiritual purification so that the spirit might soar in prayer.

What is it like today? Many of us probably struggle with forgoing an hour of screen time when the internet goes down, or incorporating five minutes of prayer into our daily schedule. What is wrong with us? It’s as though we’re being held back by some invisible force that we can’t quite identify. We may desire to put on the “joggers” to run the race, but our lethargy or lack of conviction tends to atrophy our commitment to a real Lenten penance.

Perhaps the cause of our inability to run the race is a lack of real love. The spiritual athletes of the past loved: they were deeply enamoured with Christ; they longed for union with God; they saw the needs of the world and saw that they could do something about them. They recognised that their penances and prayers were able to “move mountains.” They believed their prayers would bear fruit so they prayed for the cessation of wars, for the triumph of love over hatred on the geopolitical stage, for the changing of the hearts of their world leaders.

It’s time once again to become spiritual athletes. Let’s take this Lenten fast seriously this year. Let’s put on the “joggers” of the Gospel of peace, vest ourselves with the “jersey” of righteousness, and strap the “pedometer” of truth around our waist (Eph 5:13ff).

How? Well, take fasting seriously. Let’s fast from sin firstly; then fast from foods and alcohol or soft drinks that weaken us and turn our will to seek comfort at all cost. Let’s battle our temper and conquer our pride by acts of meekness and humility that are the fruit of prayer and giving our goods to the poor.

It’s been said that the problem with the Western world is its lack of belief in God. The Christians of old converted the pagan world through prayer, sacrifice, and witness to Christ. We can do the same, if we truly believe, for our faith will move us into action.