‘But even now, says the Lord, repent sincerely and return to me with fasting, and weeping and mourning. Let your broken hearts show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough.’ (Joel 2:12-13)
Introduction
Lent is a very important time in Christendom. Many people try to do something special during it whether as individuals or community – giving up something, taking up certain spiritual exercises, surrendering defective attitudes and conquering bad habits. Our Lenten exercise begins with the readings of the scene of the temptation of Jesus Christ in the desert, where He needed to reflect on the nature of His mission and to equip Himself to carry it out. (Luke 4:1-13). We sincerely picture Christ in the solitude of the desert, and rejoice with His victory which He wants to share with us. We too like Jesus must embark on a special forty days program of prayers, reflection and fasting.
Preparing for a better Lent
How can we make lent more spiritually fulfilling and fruitful? It is not just a season we simply pass through, attending parties after parties or shopping for assorted gifts, with little spiritual benefits. Generally, doctors recommend regular check-ups to make sure that our bodies are functioning properly. Though we might not even realize something is wrong, undetected problem could potentially cause other health issues. The same is true with our spiritual relationship with God and with one another. Lent is a time for spiritual check-up, reappraisal and evaluation of our lives. Just as some people are nervous about seeing their physician, so we might also feel fearful of inviting the Holy Spirit to examine our lives and to help lighten our path. But we cannot hope to share his victory unless we fight His battle; and to fight His battle, we have to face the ‘desert’ – to fast and pray, and to die to our old selves. Today, everybody wants to seek something for themselves – pleasure, glory, honor, and power. We recoil from the cross and the desert experience. Lent calls us to true conversion and repentance as we taste God’s mercy and totally surrender our lives to Him. For without His help we cannot change our lives. The fact that God loves us is undeniable. He said so in His word and demonstrates it through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The rewards of embracing fasting
Since the Church’s earliest days, Christians have fasted in preparation for significant holidays or holy days. This lent, try giving up something. Traditional fast include meat and dairy, but what we give up matters less than the spirit in which we do so. Fasting should be challenging, but it need not be excessive. The purpose is greater awareness of, and devotion to God – letting Him remain the focus of our attention in the midst of the midst of activities that would otherwise distract us. Other options could be limiting media, such as television, film, music or internet usage to allow more time for Scripture reading and prayer.
The rewards of embracing fasting are great:
§ We gain greater intimacy with the Lord and others. Regular communion with God helps us avoid many snares from over-indulgence and materialism to judging others, idolatry or apathy
§ Grow in Christlikeness and holiness
§ Fasting purifies our motives and helps us to discern God’s will
§ It helps us overthrow Satan and free ourselves from the worship of false gods
§ God remove any spiritual blockage that impede a close walk with Him
§ Our energies is renewed as resentment, fear and other ungodly attitude stop draining us
§ Following and Serving God becomes a great joy, instead of duty
§ We have the opportunity to set our goals and priorities right
§ We experience spiritual freedom through forgiveness, and this gives us deeper fulfillment, peace and joy.
Conclusion
Therefore, let this lent be for us a great time of fasting, repentance, prayer and great anticipation in the days leading to Easter. As our faith matures, it certainly becomes a time grace and growing in holiness. As maturity is a life-long process, I believe that with the Word of God to enlighten us, and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, we would become victorious like Christ over Satan.
Rev Fr Michael Adefemi Adegbola, Director Media Service Centre Kaduna, Nigeria, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment