How I Prepare for Lent

by Sr. Margaret Hickey, ND

I just realized that there is a little more than a month between Christmas and Lent this year—Christmas season ends January 8 and Lent begins, Feb. 14th.  I don’t usually prepare but this request caused this reflection:

First of all, I need to focus toward and remember that Lent calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving.   So, my prayer today would be that my relationship with my God, especially in the person of Jesus, will grow deeper over the weeks and continue forward from there.  (I can start practicing now.)  There are many ways to fast—I choose to fast from negativity, judgments, inaction and turn that into almsgiving of my time, my talent, and my treasure. (I can be mindful of this every day.)   I pray that my actions will make a difference in the lives of those I meet in this time and that Jesus in his great love for humankind will be my strong companion always.  Thus, the quiet of Lent and its challenges will be with me always.  And Easter will be a grand celebration.