Not Letting Your Left Hand Know What the Right Hand is Doing: Why We Celebrate Lent

The season of Lent approaches soon.

What are you giving up for Lent?

While it is a good question, we must consider why we celebrate Lent. Do you celebrate Lent because your family practices the Catholic rituals and you want to impress them? Do you celebrate it because you fear Hell? Why do we celebrate this upcoming season?

I was at a meeting last night when the pastor mentioned about Ash Wednesday was coming up. He stated that it was not a holy day of obligation. However, some Catholics treat the day as obligatory; we go to Mass to receive ashes on our foreheads. Do we receive because our parents said so?

For me, Lent is a special time. 12 years ago, I was preparing to be received in full communion with the Catholic Church. Before the Easter vigil, I reflected on the meaning of sacrifice and suffering. I understood what Lent means. It is more that a season to give up chocolate; it is a season of preparation for Easter when the Lord defeated death and rose again.

We must ask ourselves why we celebrate Lent. Lent is a time when we pray, fast, and do penance. Here are some simple suggestions on how to celebrate this season:

Pray:

You may consider going to daily Mass during the week or praying the Liturgy of the Hours. A wonderful resource for smartphone and tablet users is the application called iBreviary that has the Mass readings and the Psalms throughout the day. Look in your dioceses for opportunities to participate reciting or chanting Matin, Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. You can start a prayer group and recite the Psalms during this penitential season. You will noticed that you are more focused on the Lord when you meditate on the Psalms and the readings.

Fast:

Here is a brief description from the Code of Canon Law:

Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance. (Can. 1251-1252)

This is not about losing weight. It is about sacrifice and reminding ourselves that others are suffering because of the lack of human needs. If possible, donate perishable items to a local food bank or serve at a soup kitchen. Share a small meal with a family member, friend or even a person in need on the sidewalk.

Do Penance:

Last night, I was sharing with my boyfriend on how can perform works of mercy. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis declared this year as a Year of Mercy. Via Google Search, I founded suggestions on how we can practice corporal and spiritual works of mercy courtesy of Joe Paprocki, Dmin of The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System. Most of the suggestions are volunteer opportunities and engaging ministries to get involved in especially during the Lenten season.

As you think about how you are going to celebrate Lent, remember that you can do one small action. It does not have to be grandiose or people pleasing. St. Matthew writes the words of Jesus: When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (6:2-4).

It is about why we do the actions. We celebrate Lent because we want to do the Father's will. May you and your families have a blessed Lenten season.