As we begin this season of Lent, it is a good time to slow down and remember why we do the things we do. The banners and paraments have been changed to remind us that we have entered into a new season in the church year. The purple represents a time of repentance and solemn preparation. Our foreheads have been marked with ashes, reminding us, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are the burnt remains of last year’s Palm Sunday palms, those green fronds that once heralded the coming of the King into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosana!
Lent is a time set apart for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. During this season of repentance and preparation, what does it look like, practically speaking, to take on one or more of the disciplines?
Prayer: Be Intentional!
Prayer comes in many forms. Here at Trinity, we have Centering Prayer, our prayer labyrinth, the prayer chain, and Sunday Worship to name a few. But prayer doesn’t have to be organized, structured, or even at church. Many of us pray in some form or another every day, sometimes without even thinking about it. Author Anne Lamott writes that three greatest prayers are: Help! Thanks! and Wow! I would suggest the additions of: Why? and Are You kidding me?! Any conversation that we have God is prayer, including the ones that are tearful, angry, or just stubborn silence.
For this season of Lent, you may want to consider intentionally setting aside time for prayer. That may look like savoring a cup of coffee or tea while you talk with God as you would with a close friend. It may look like reading a gospel passage every day and imagining yourself in the story, then letting yourself wonder about its meaning. The stories of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are especially good for this form of imaginative prayer. It may be time spent watching nature and noticing how God is at work in creation. Or you may choose to spend time on retreat to have some alone time with God.
Fasting: What Difference Does It Make?
Fasting is an ancient practice of abstaining from something, giving something up for a specific period of time. Often, we think of giving up sweets or not eating meat on Fridays. The practice of fasting is not a punishment for sin, rather it is intended to make us mindful. The purpose of not eating meat on Fridays was never about having a seafood feast or a pizza night, but instead to have simple meal. Fasting from certain foods reminds us of those who go hungry. The money saved might be used to buy food for those in need, thus our fasting feeds others.
Some fast from television or social media. This is not because social media or television are vices, but rather to make us mindful of how much time we spend on them. Giving up social media or television frees up time to spend on other things such as time spent with family or friends, reading, prayer, or a quiet meditative activity, thus our fasting allows us to deepen relationships with others, with God, or with ourselves.
Pope Leo XIV called for people to consider, “refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves.” This too is a form of fasting and thus, it leads to more thoughtfulness and peace in our words to and about others.
Almsgiving: Intentional Generosity
Almsgiving is the ancient practice of give money or food to the poor. But it may also include giving time. Giving alms may look like donating food to a local food pantry or inviting a lonely friend over for dinner. It may look like volunteering time at local foodbank, packing bags of groceries to distribute or it may look like taking an elderly neighbor to the store. It may look like shoveling the sidewalk and driveway of a neighbor who depends on Meals on Wheels or visiting nurses. It may look like offering a ride to someone who needs help getting to worship or it may look like visiting someone who must stay home. It may look like offering respite time for someone who is a caregiver for a family member. There are many ways to give gifts of time, money, and food.
As we enter in this season of Lent, we have the chance to stop and consider how we can be very mindful and intentional about our relationship with God, about the ways we spend our time and energy and the ways we interact with people. It allows us to reflect and to be intentional about the way we live and move in the world as followers of Christ. And it allows us to repent, to turn again to God, as we stumble always into the God’s loving embrace.