The coming of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving For many, Lent is a difficult time. It is all about giving up, sacrificing, and focusing on the suffering servant of Jesus Christ, a new kind of messiah. Moreover, we have some 2,000-plus years of history to help understand the “suffering season of Lent.” Imagine what it was like for the people of Jesus’ time? It was all new. Giving up, by way of choice; a new messiah who was service-oriented rather than to be the object of other’s service; a king of duty versus a king of the high-and-mighty.

How should modern Catholics understand the meaning of the Season of Lent? How are we to think about “sacrifice,” how do we incorporate servant leadership in our own lives?

The real meaning and purpose of Lent should be that we come to discover, follow and share Jesus Christ in-and-through our daily activities of life. After all, “why are we here?” Is it not to know, love and serve the Lord in this life, so that we be with Him forever and always in the world to come? (Paraphrased from the Baltimore Catechism) Lent, then, as the Catholic Church notes, is explained well in the Church’s unofficial slogan: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. As Catholics, we are called to “Put out deep into the waters of faith” and grow closer to Christ. That begins with deepening our personal relationship with Him in and through prayer.

Prayer is a dialogue w ith God. It calls us to our inner room …and to speak to the Father. Tell God about your life, what you need and want, and ask for His guidance, Wisdom, and Courage to grow in the friendship He desires with you. Prayer calls us to listen to God’s Voice and to be guided into the righteous way, the Plan that He has for your life.

Fasting is a w ay to align or connect our life w ith those w ho are suffering, going without. Fasting enables both the body and the spirit to know affliction. Even if we only go a day without food, we can feel the physical hunger pain, but of equal or greater import, to “go without,” enables us to spiritually connect in some way with those who are truly suffering—and suffering not by way of choice but due to a lack of wherewithal. Even though some folks may ridicule, “fasting,” it has spiritual power and can lead us along the road to knowing God’s Will.

Almsgiving. For the cynic, alm sgiving is just a way for the Church to raise money. I have heard it all before…the perpetual “I am always being asked to give…” But almsgiving is a spiritual tool that reminds us of how blessed we are—and that we are called, as brothers in sisters in Christ, to be concerned for and to care about others in need. In the Christian perspective, it is not about “whose fault it is, but that someone is in need…and we are called to help if we are able to help.” As I often say, our second collections and our projects are voluntary; no one is mandated to give. Rather, we are all called by Christ to help out of the generosity and goodness of our hearts. Therefore, the question is: Do I feel blest in my life; not that I have what I want but rather I have all that I need. In addition, that I recognize that God is the source of all my blessings. The right response of thanks for the blessings I have is to share some of what I do have with those who have nothing.

Pray—to a loving God. Fasting—to align my personal life with God’s creation. Almsgiving—to correct the inequity of the human condition by my charity and kindness. Perhaps a new perspective on Lent.