Lent is the time that we take to prepare ourselves to commemorate Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  Then at the end of this lent we can enjoy fully, the joy of Easter.

The season of Lent is a journey that starts on Ash Wednesday up to Easter Sunday.  The last three days before Easter are called Triduum which starts on Holy Thursday, Holy Friday up to Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.  During the Triduum we can pray, meditate on the Passion of the Lord, his suffering and his death, this is part of the penitential experience of Lent.  Let us be Pilgrims of Hope as we journey to the cross towards the Holy Week.

Let us be serious about our lives during these 40 days of lent, let us take a spiritual journey to expect a spiritual growth by practicing self discipline, pray to the Lord that the graces of prayer, penance and almsgiving transform our lives.  Prayer is the best way to honor God and to get close to him.

‘‘When you give alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be a secret. And your father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matt 6:3-4

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert praying and fasting, He was getting ready for his mission to preach the Gospel.  Lent is a time to be more sensitive to the role of sin in our lives, get rid of our selfish desires and examine our own prejudices so God can transform us by giving us his graces.

“Repent and believe in the Gospel.’” Mark 1: 15

During this Jubilee year let us try to follow Jesus’ footsteps.  Pray and interiorize His teachings and his actions, see how He lived and what He did when He was on earth.  Let your minds and hearts be open to God’s grace.  Get closer to Jesus by reading and reflecting on some passages taken from the Word of God, they can enlighten your daily lives.  Develop a personal relationship with the Lord.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you so He can lead you in the right paths. I suggest to you during this lent, to take time to enter your own personal desert and do some personal reflections on these passages:

“Lord open my eyes that I may see.” Mark 10: 4

“When you pray go to your room, close the door, pray to your father in secret.  And your father who sees in secret will repay you.” 6 Matt 6

Then reflect on the Lord’s Prayer that will give you hope:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done on earth, as in heaven, give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debtors as we forgive our debtors and do not subject us to the final test but deliver us from the evil one.” Matt 6:9.

I also suggest you to reflect on the seven penitential Psalms from the bible.  They express sorrow and they help you to recognize your sins.

Psalms, 6,….32,….38,….51,….102,….130,….14,…. etc.

Jesus suffered for us and he loves us. He invites us to accept his unconditional love. Thank him for his boundless love. He came to save us all, consider what Jesus endured on the cross for our failures, death was the final and permanent sacrifice for our sins. Let’s accept our own crosses and pray for the people so that they can bear their own crosses of suffering and pain.

“If anyone comes after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and daily follow him”.
Luke 9:23

Let us observe this Lenten season with reflection, penance and renewal. Let us ask the Lord Jesus to accompany us. Lent is a time of prayer, look at Jesus and immerse yourselves in Scripture, make the Word of God your own. May you receive the grace to grow strong in your faith and in its practices.

We are all called to be rooted in Jesus Christ. He gives us confidence and He gives us what we need. With a grateful heart may we thank him for all his great gifts received, especially His love so we can extend that love to others.

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matt 6:8

SEEK THE LORD AND PRAY THE SCRIPTURES!