Lent is described as the forty day liturgical season
of fasting and praying that prepares Christians for Easter. It represents the
time that Jesus spent alone in the desert; where he endured temptation but
rejected it. As we enter the Lenten season, we are called to sacrifice and fast
just as Christ did for forty days in order to bring us salvation. We are also
expected to reject all of Satan's temptations just as Christ did. Prayer,
fasting and self sacrifice are the pivotal points of the Lenten season. Without
a commitment to these central themes of Lent, we cannot grow as Catholics, and
we completely miss the true significance of Easter.
When many of us were smaller children, we associated
Lent with the giving up of our favorite toys or candy, if we even committed to
Lent at all. To us it meant no meat on Fridays, so instead we ate fish. But as
mature youth, we are called to go beyond the mere surrendering of our childish
indulgences, and take a step forward so that we may transition into young
adulthood. But it is more than forty days of mandatory forfeit. We must prepare
ourselves for Easter, for Christ's Resurrection. But by ignoring true self-
giving sacrifice, we become selfish and unworthy in the eyes of God. We also
forfeit a golden opportunity to grow closer to God. During the Lenten season, we
are called to become more reflective of our lifestyles, and confess our sins
committed before the Resurrection, so that we may redeem our souls.
So what can we do to prepare ourselves for Easter?
What are we supposed to sacrifice during Lent? To prepare ourselves for Easter
during Lent, we must first and foremost pray. Prayer: all good things come of
prayer. When we communicate with God, we grow closer. Secondly, we should attend
church, remembering to keep Holy the Sabbath Day. When we go to church, we are
able to consume the Body and the Blood of Christ, so that we may have
everlasting life. Third- fasting. Fasting cleanses our bodies and our souls. If
we are clean mind, body and spirit we will be prepared to enter the Kingdom of
Heaven. Lastly we must confess. Confession is necessary for spiritual growth. It
is an opportunity to fix our relationship with God through repentance. When we
repent, we acknowledge our shortcomings, and vow to keep from straying in the
future. This is how we prepare during the Lenten season for Easter. Preparation
is essentially what the Lenten season is about. If we stumble through the Lenten
season blindly, we cannot grow and we miss the importance of Easter. But when we
pray, fast, attend church and confess our sins we develop a new appreciation for
the season, and Easter will have a completely different meaning afterwards.
Marissa currently attends St. Bernard High School in
Los Angeles, California, and will be attending Hampton University this fall.
