Lent has begun with its traditional invitation to get back to the basics of the Christian life. How do we do that? We give more time and attention to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Check the “Weekly Word” eBulletin for a schedule of special opportunities for Lenten growth including the Rice Bowl Program. If for whatever reason you haven’t attended Mass in a while, Lent is a great time to work that back into your weekly routine. When your weekends are full, remember that we have a regular Wednesday Mass at 6:30 pm.
Catholics are invited to fast from consuming meat on Fridays during Lent. We did that every Friday when I was growing up, which in our family meant we would sometimes have pancakes for dinner! This simple discipline is meant to help us exercise self-control so that we might let go of vices and negative behaviors in order to feast on the virtues that make us holy. Here is one of my favorite lists of suggestions on what to “Give up forLent,” so that we might be ready to “Take up the life of the resurrection” we prepare to celebrate at Easter:
Fast from judgment, Feast on compassion Fast from greed, Feast on sharing Fast from scarcity, Feast on abundance Fast from fear, Feast on peace Fast from lies, Feast on truth Fast from gossip, Feast on Praise Fast from apathy, Feast on engagement Fast from discontent, Feast on gratitude Fast from noise, Feast on silence Fast from discouragement, Feast on hope Fast from hatred, Feast on love