LENTEN THOUGHTS 2015

So its Lent...  But what exactly does that mean?

Christian's recognize Lent as a time of praying, and fasting... A time of spiritual growth, and of service in preparation for "Easter"(I personally don't like the word Easter, as the word "Pascua" would be more correct but will use Easter for now here and maybe explain more when that time comes). In the origins of the word "Lent", it can literally be translated to "Spring" or "Spring-time". The Spring is a time of new life and growth.  It is the season of restoration, and renewal... The season where plants and animals come out from literal dark days, to brighter ones. Lent in the spiritual sense reflects this and so the season of spring can be a great metaphor to what happens within.

As a Christian man myself, the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very center of my faith, belief and hope.  Although I do not impose that on anyone else, my entire lifestyle must reflect that in all ways, and since Lent is leading up to Holy week ending with "Easter" which is that very mystery, this is a very important time in my own spiritual life.

Every year for the past years as I have grown in faith, there has been a new Lenten theme for me.... A new understanding of just what that means to prepare for the mystery that leads to the resurrection.  Many know Lent simply as "giving something up", but many don't take the time to reflect for what.  I once heard from a man, that "fasting without prayer, is simply a diet" and as I have grown in faith, I have learned not only to appreciate fasts, but also countless times step into a deeper understanding of what it means to fast. In fact, my beloved Father Founder, Fernando Rielo said that the best thing to fast from is your passions. Not "passions" like just giving up things you like to do, but "passions" that you are so emotionally attached to, it distracts you from becoming more attached to God.

This year, I had planned a particular fast approaching Ash Wednesday, and had planned to take past in the contest the USCCB was doing but when I heard the Gospel reading for that day, I decided not to.

People who know me, know I have been speaking a lot about effort.... In a new way, I have learned just how much delights in our efforts towards him more than anything else. The reason for temptation and suffering is from the fall of Adam and Eve, and one of the biggest consequences is man now having to labor.

My Lenten thoughts have been exactly this... How can I make everything an offering? And how can I make myself more uncomfortable as an effort towards you? Who can I reach out to more? And how can I dedicate more time to more people, instead of merely on "projects"?

As we are now almost midway through Lent, I pray you may continue on this contemplation with me and see how we can together put our efforts towards God and one another.

- The Symbol                                             - All is Love