Living With Greater Purpose

Lent is more than a seasonal observance; it is a deliberate call to conversion and growth, especially in our fast-paced modern times. In these forty days, the Catholic Church invites us to reclaim the discipline of our hearts so that we can live with greater purpose. Here are a few reminders and tips to help you take advantage of this Lent:

It is a gift to have this time of preparation

Could you imagine tomorrow being Easter?! You celebrate it and then move on. Where would the meaning be? How deeply would you be able to enter into the central moments of the life of Jesus if it came and went just like that? All the more so would this be a problem in a world that is now so fast-paced. Lent arose from Christians' desire to give the attention and preparation necessary to something as important as the celebration of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus. The central moment of all of history! What a gift that the Church continues to offer us each year, this time of Lent, as an opportunity to not just breeze past the Paschal Mystery (suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus). A great way to start is to have a desire to make the most of this time!

Lent is a personal workout routine for our spirit

Lent may have looked quite different for someone 500 years ago, but it remains relevant to us today because it touches key areas of the human person, while leaving enough room for us to make a “routine” (Lenten practices) that fits us. This also helps us to understand that Lent can’t look the same for me each year. It requires an initial examination of where I am and how I am doing in my Christian life. This is similar to how a personal trainer doesn’t just draw up a standard routine for us but first looks at our personal profile to create something more customized to our situation. Going into Lent, this personal examination is a necessary step to get the most out of this sacred season.

“Giving something up” continues to be relevant and important

Sacrifice. Not exactly our favorite word. In the religious arena, something that could even sound unnecessary since, as Christians, we know that God loves us and wants our good. But nothing could be further from the truth! Lent is a time to strengthen our desire for God and our faith-filled outlook on life and eternity. If we are honest, so many other desires and concerns flood our minds and hearts. Oftentimes, to the detriment of seeking God, we are often fooled into thinking we were made only for this world. When we “give something up” during Lent, the goal is to allow our hearts to settle on God and His plan for us, rather than on the things of this world. This is a great key for customizing our Lenten sacrifices: what is it that most distracts my heart from God?

Our Lenten practices help us flourish

Plants are pruned to grow stronger and give better fruit. Diets deny us certain foods, so our bodies become healthier. Professionals say “no” to many opportunities to advance their careers. Pruning, diet, and saying “no” are all pathways to flourishing in these areas. And this is also true in our life of faith. Lent isn’t a somber, cross-filled season, it is a time of spiritual flourishing. When journeyed well, Lent can give so much spiritual fruit and we will feel like our soul was nourished, exercised and strengthened.

The personal results of a good Lent are what is so needed in today’s world

One thing that always stands out to me in today’s world is that people are frequently searching for inner peace and hope. Peace comes from having everything in its proper place. Lent helps to put the deepest parts of the human person in order: our desires, the importance we give to things, our outlooks and our choices (it submits our choices to God’s Will). The more we allow Lent to generate this interior order, the more peace we will experience. Hope, on the other hand, is a result of a faith-filled outlook on life. The stronger my faith, the more fervent my hope will be. Since Lent steeps us in and constantly reminds us of the truths of our faith, our hope—which only resides in God—will also increase. Who could ask for anything better than peace and hope?

It is not only a private matter, but a public testimony

Lent is a sign to the world that God exists. Not only because of the ashes we will have on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. We also abstain from meat on Fridays (this got McDonald’s attention with their Filet-o-Fish). We try to refrain from bigger celebrations and extra entertainment. And our Lenten practices undoubtedly are noticed by those around us. A Catholic in Lent is a reminder to the world that God is more important than the passing things of life. We each have an evangelizing opportunity this Lent to bring God to others!

Lent roots you in a tradition that is tried and tested

One of my favorite things about Lent, as well as many other traditions of the Catholic Church, is that it goes back…way back. There are written references to a preparation for Easter involving fasting that date back to St. Irenaeus, who died in 203 AD. Of course, it took time for this practice to solidify to a 40-day practice, but by the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th, it was mandated by the pope (Pope Leo the Great) and acknowledged as having its roots in the apostles themselves. For almost two thousand years, then, Christians have prepared their hearts for Easter with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let’s take advantage of this tried-and-true season that can bear so much fruit in our relationship with the Lord!