Lenten season

Today I went for a Reconciliation at the chapel in my University. It wasn't so much of new things that I gained, but rather reviews of things about Lent season, which indeed gave me a wider understanding about it.

It was Fr. Paskal, an Indonesian Priest who was carrying the session. And it was in English. Anyways, there is a few things that I'd like to share with you.. ^^ As it's mentioned in the Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten 2009's message, that Lenten includes mainly 3 things: Fasting/Abstinence, Prayer, and Almsgiving.

Here, he called these 3 as the Three Prongs.. You know Prongs? it's like the Fork, the sharp part of it.. So, that's why, these 3 Prongs are the things that strike us and to deeply feel the meaning of Lenten itself. Besides, he also mentioned about the Value and Meaning of fasting..
1. It is a way to avoid sin and all that leads us to it.
2. It is a way to clean out our lives, a time of discernment.
3. It is a way of making sacrifices, a time of detachment.
4. It is a way of removing our masks.

The first, by nature, we as human always fail not sin again, although we've promised ourselves not to do it again and we've even tried many times. But it is okay, there's nothing wrong with it. God still loves us and He'll be even glad when we realise that we've done wrong and ask Him for His forgiveness. For "God looks on our hearts." (c.f. 1 Sam 16: 7). Confession is indeed a way to get ourselves closer to Him. It is also a mirror for self-reflection. Don't be afraid to confession our wrong doings, and most importantly, don't get tired because of the same sins to confess! What's important is our desire to repent. Therefore, by avoiding the sins, we are to receive God's blessings.

Secondly, this Lenten season is a time for us to do cleaning. Just like what Chinese people when they're about to celebrate Chinese New Year. They clean their houses and throw away things that are not used anymore and buy new things for their house. Same for us, we should clean up our hearts, too, from everything that isn't good, that bothers us all this while. We ask Him for healing and thus, we'll have the peace within. Do not be afraid to ask, for "when we ask, it will be given; when we seek, we will find; and when we knock, the door will be opened to us." (c.f. Matt 7: 7)

Thirdly, it is also a time for sacrifices. If we have not done any almsgiving to help the needy, why not starting it from today? We can donate few cents/dollars to the church or any charity organisations, give some food to the little children on the streets, etc.. This reminds me of the money that I lost just last week. It was a huge amount of money and I couldn't even recall when I last hold that piece of paper money. -_-". But I told myself that it was part of my almsgiving and I pray for whoever got it, he/she will use it for something good. (That's why I am now more careful in spending my money.. considering if I were to used that $$ for things that I want to buy but in fact, I don't.. )

Other than this, sacrifices could also mean giving up something to gain something better. In other words, letting go something that doesn't do good to us. It allows us avoid the temptation of this world. Food is one of the example and the most common thing for people. We (at least me and my friends) hear a lot about food sacrificing. For me, besides food, computer is another sacrifice. By 11PM, my laptop has to be OFF. ^^, In addition, through this sacrifices, we're providing more room for God and us. So the relationship between the two is strengthened.

Last but not least, Lenten is the time for us to revealing ourselves and removing the mask which we've used all this while. We need to be opened and just be who we are! Nothing we shall be feared of, for God is with us. (c.f. Luke 12: 7). In addition, we should be true to ourselves first then we can be true to others.

Moreover, in order to carry this on, we need to cultivate within ourselves the new spiritual disciplines, in which we prepare ourselves to receive God's grace. And now is the best time for us to prepare for His coming.
The joy of Easter is right in front of us, so what are we waiting for?

God bless.