LENT: HAVE YOUR HEART READY TO MEET GOD AT ALL TIMES

 

LENT

HAVE YOUR HEART READY TO MEET 

GOD AT ALL TIMES

We are a fearful people. And we engender fear.

There is not one of us who has not experienced trauma at the hands of another. The effects of the original Fall from grace have been far-flung and devastating. Each often knows the sting of an insult such as "idiot", "stupid", "why can't you be like (anyone else but your God-given self)"?

Have you ever been told by another, "I hate you"? Such a declaration can be most destructive. Years ago I asked someone who appeared to dislike me, "What annoys you about me so much?" With hostility the individual replied, "You're still breathing."

Many of us experience fear such as fear of the dark or of the unknown. We fear rejection by others. Some lie in bed at night with hearts racing. Sleeplessness is invaded by questions such as "Will I lose my job?" "How will I ever manage to pay everything this month?" "Will this illness end in cancer?" "Will my loved one die?"

LENT IS THE ANSWER TO FEAR

Left to ourselves, we may go around in mental circles. We may feel doomed to lack of courage, fear of who we are and what can happen. Many of us have experienced abuse, physical, verbal and spiritual. Financial abuse is another form of hurt many of us experience. Jesus Christ faced all our fears, and magnificently overcame them. Not by being above fear, but by refusing to allow His steadfast love to be overcome by fear and its oft-accompanying spirit, hatred. 

The Savior sweated blood in the garden as He faced torture and death. That night He was at the mercy of soldiers, tortured before death. Human sadism driven on by the influence of demonic loathing visited cruelty upon Him. Prior to His execution, Jesus was hammered with whips. His nose was possibly broken by the mailed glove of a guard. Thorns were forced into His Head. For His execution, Jesus' clothing was removed so that He hung naked upon the cross.  

Every pain the human race can suffer was forced upon Him as He sweated blood to save all of us from our sins. The saddest of all Christ's sufferings was that those whom He loves laughed at His pain. Why do we enjoy the suffering of another when we hurt so desperately ourselves?

Spring-clean our inner selves

Jesus went out to the desert for forty days and nights in order to wrestle with the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. His example ushered in the Lenten season where we take a long, sober look at ourselves and clean out the inner house of our soul. Things lurk there: a spirit of pride, or a spirit of rejection. A jealousy which is engaged in destroying the happiness of another innocent soul who cannot understand why he or she is the target of our rage when all they do is work and love and pray.

Covetousness of another who has a bigger car, and stronger house, has better health or a larger bank balance. All of these things do not bring peace. We need to clear out our soul, and Lent is the perfect time to do it.

Personal judgement

Remember, dear one, that we are going to meet God in our personal judgement. When we die (yes, let us not run away from the reality by trying to stay ever-youthful and pretend to ourselves by our thoughts of everything except the inevitable truth) we will stand before Almighty God to answer for our deeds and misdeeds.

No-one will hold our hand. No-one who was complicit with us in sinning in mob violence, jeering at another, watching online matter the making of which entailed trafficking of innocents will stand with us at our last judgement when we face the Almighty. No, we will stand alone.

Let us make this reckoning of how we have spent our lives a joyous one, knowing that despite our many mistakes (and all of us make mistakes!) we have really tried our best. Our merciful Lord does not ask much more than that. However, He really does not like it when we deliberately turn our face away from all that is good.

Ask forgiveness

Lent is the time to ask God for forgiveness. Lent is the time to take a long look at our inner selves and change what is bad there. Yes, bad. I have said it. We all have the ability for bad within ourselves. 

However, habit is a wonderful thing. If we practise something often enough, it becomes part of us. So, if I get up each morning and practice meditation, my inner self will become calmer and my mind automatically will turn to God as soon as I wake up. I become that which I practise. 

Model yourself on Christ

Let us take the model of Our Lord Jesus Christ and practise His virtues; humility, kindness, patience, peace, goodness, trust in God, lack of revenge and inclusive love for all. Practice these things all the time in your own individual way. Eventually you will become these wonderful things.

That is not to say that you don't already have these virtues within yourselves; each of us have been given spiritual gifts by God. However, not all of us develop them to the fullest of their potential. Throw away your fear, leave behind your trauma and develop inner serenity and calm by asking Christ to change your soul and spirit.

Hurt

We hurt others as they hurt others. Often we hurt others through our fear: you will get the position at work I want, so I must destroy your professional reputation by lies. No. This is not from God.

I am afraid that you will hurt me, so I will hurt you first. No: again, this is not from God. Throw away fear, cleanse your heart of anxiety. Build your spiritual house upon the solid rock of God and not upon the shifting sands of the mores of the world, the flesh and the devil. 

Then, when temptation strikes, when the winds and the floods of difficulties arise around us, we will be able to stand firm and strong, true heirs to the Kingdom of God. Within ourselves the root of anger and hostility against others will fade, and the flower of love and care will flourish.

Chalice of Life

Each of us must drink from the chalice of life, whether we want to or not. Each of us must carry our own individual cross as disciple of God; whether we want to or not. However, if we courageously take up our cross and carry it, instead of waiting for daily life in this imperfect world to force it upon our shoulders, we have already thrown away a little fear and built a little courage.

Follow Jesus, Pattern of all that is good and holy

God testified to His Son at Christ's transfiguration with the words, "This is My Son, Whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35)  It behoves us to be obedient to the Almighty. Jesus is the pattern of all that is good and holy. The four gospels explain the wonders of His human character allied to His divine dignity. Read them and immerse yourself in Who Jesus Christ really is - the One Who could forgive those who had just hammered nails into His wrists and feet.

Follow Jesus. Be strong. When your heart beats faster, and your palms sweat, and you feel inadequate, realize that the entire treasury of the Grace of God has been put at your disposal.

You are an heir of God, you will win heaven. But faint heart never won great victory. The greatest victory each of us can win is over ourselves. So be strong this Lent, turn to Jesus, go to confession to a reputable priest who is a person of authentic spirituality and change your life forever.

Mercy

Each of us will stand before Almighty God and answer for our deeds, misdeeds, and our no deeds when we should have acted. Mindful of this, let us show mercy for others, compassion for their weakness, understanding for their pain. Be strong in following Christ. Don't eat too much, don't fast too much. Balance is all. Don't use the beautiful sounds God made to fill our mouths in order to spew out invective. 

Be careful what you watch and read

Don't watch or read things that are not godly. Don't walk past the suffering of the innocent. Be strong. You are a beloved of Christ.

Lent: a wonderful time

Lent is a wonderful time. It is a second chance once again - every year! A second change to re-set our compass towards the due north of our heavenly destination. Yet again we are given a chance to decide to become the greatest saint that we can be. Once more we can turn to the sacraments to wash away our sin and become a new person in Christ.

One day will be your last

Throw away fear. Do not cause fear in others. Embrace each day.  One day will be your last before your eyes open to the wonderful vision of God in heaven. Make sure you have prepared for your eternal home by a good life. This is done by repenting your falls, receiving communion if possible and loving all in a godly manner.

Blessings as your fast, pray and give alms this Lent

May God's blessings be with you during this time of purification, turn towards holiness. The three ways you can celebrate the wonder of Lent are by means of fasting (prudently!), prayer (turn your hearts towards God and talk to Him - He gets lonely for your company) and almsgiving (give of your blessings to others who have none).

Become a saint!

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF LENT?

LOOK TOWARDS JESUS

The true message of Lent is simple: look towards Jesus, and follow His example.

  Jesus trained His Spirit to ultimate strength. In order to do this, He listened to God.

  He went to a quiet place to talk with God and seek guidance about His Life. [1] 

  Jesus trained His Body to be subordinate to His Spirit. This He did by fasting. [2]

He read and meditated upon the Scriptures. [3] Jesus humbly accepted trials. [4]

  Jesus resisted the temptation to be impressed by money, buildings and fame. [5]

  He chose instead to live as witness to God, instead of pursuing the passing glory of this earth.

  Jesus helped the poor, the sick, those in need. He advocated almsgiving, praising those who give - even very little. [6]

HOW DO WE BECOME LIKE JESUS?

We train ourselves to respond to situations in the same way that Jesus would have.

  This way of life does not come overnight. Each of us has a journey to travel to become our holy self.

  Each of us has personal decisions to make about how we treat our body, the people around us, the world in which we live.

  

Let us develop holy habits

Do we treat our body as the temple of God? Or do we subject our body to the dangers of promiscuity, addictive substances which harm?

   Do we treat others with respect and human decency, or do we use them for our own advancement in life without thought of the damage we may be causing in their lives?

  Do we treat the world and the animals within with respect and decency, or do we misuse resources and ill-treat the vulnerable?

  Do we train our spirits so we are the master of ourselves? Do we make use of the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to strengthen our inner selves?

There are many ways in which we, as humans, can act in a Christ-like compassionate way.

  There are also many ways in which we, as humans, can fail to live up to the noble dignity of the humanity within us.

Lent is a golden time, an opportunity for us to do - as it were - a quality check on our spiritual life.

  Remember, we will leave this world with our soul. Our soul is our eternal wealth. 

  If we do not care for our inner spirit but spend all our efforts on our human body, on housing, estates and paper and metal money, we will not have looked forward to our eternal future.

During Lent we can make fresh decisions - a spiritual New Year's resolution - to leave behind the mistakes of the past, beg God's forgiveness for where we have failed, and steadfastly begin again on our path to authentic discipleship.

One year our Lent will be our last. Let it be our best.

POINTS TO PONDER

1. Make Lent a time of renewed prayer

2. Realise personal points of failure - sin - and repent of them

3. Change your life 

4. Practise prayer - even ten minutes a day is a good start. Ten minutes is better than nothing. Once you develop a life of prayer, it become like water for your soul - indispensable and infinitely comforting

5. Practice almsgiving - give a sensible tithe to those in need. If your family is the most in need, and there is very little - or no - income, well then, charity begins at home. Almsgiving can also include a kind word, a gentle smile, a helpful deed, neighbourly support

6. Practise fasting - fasting means to be disciplined in eating and drinking habits. It does not mean going without to the point of anorexia. It also does not mean fasting from food alone. It is helpful to be moderate in eating habits, as well as fasting from a spiteful word, harmful gossip, a false accusation, an action which leads to the breakup of a marriage

4. Make resolutions to become more like Jesus

5. Read the life of Jesus and imitate His wonder and beauty

6. If you have never before followed Jesus, why not accept Jesus into your life?

HOW TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR

Close your eyes, calm your breathing, and recite the following prayer dedicating yourself to the Son of God Who gave His Life for you.

"Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father.

I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please You.

I choose You.

I give myself to you.

I receive Your forgiveness and ask You to take Your rightful place in my life as my Saviour and Lord.

Come and reign as King in my heart.

Fill me with Your Love and Your Life.

Help me to become a person like You - a person who is truly loving, respectful of life and obedient to the Commandments of God the Father.

Restore me, Jesus.

Live in me.

Love through me.

Thank You, God.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."

Now pray Christ's own prayer;

Pray the following words as Jesus taught us:

"Our Father,

Who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy Will be done,

One earth as it is in Heavne.

Give us this day

Our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil,

For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

For ever and ever. Amen.

Take time to pray

Prayer is easy; just talk silently within yourself to Jesus. Tell Him your fears. Tell Him your tears.

Tell Him your worries, your sins, your hopes, your joys.

  He wants to be your Friend. The One Who always supports you, whether anyone else does or not.

  The One Who always love you, whether those who should love you do or not.

  The One Who wipes away every tear, calms every fear, and unerringly leads us to Heaven.

Now seek Baptism

Now find a good and trustworthy priest, seek baptism, and be baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

[1] But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed [Luke Chapter 5: verse 16]

[2] Matthew Chapter 4: verse 2

[3] Luke Chapter 4: verses 17 to 21

[4] Luke Chapter 22: verse 42

[5] Matthew Chapter 4: verses 8 to 10

[6] Luke Chapter 21: verses 1 to 4