Season Of Lent

"Season of Lent"

Church celebrates three important seasons: Advent, Lent and Pentecost, wherein all the three represents the season of Triune God. Season of Lent is a religious observance from "Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday". It is a commemoration of the 40 Days-Nights Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness by the devil.

Lent is a time of Sprouting Again. In this season, we are called to do two things: "Remember & Do".

Firstly, Remember the "Passion of Christ" i.e. Christ's Temptations, Passion, Suffering, Death & Resurrection. Secondly, Remember the "Guidance of God" in our lives during our Temptations, Suffering and Pain.

Do is to have Spiritual Exercises for the Purification/Rejuvenation of the Mind, Body and Spirit. We are called to do Five things: Fasting, Prayer, Repentance, Love and Forgiveness.

To Fast is not "to refrain from" but rather "to involve in". True Fast is to involve yourself in the struggle against injustice; to involve yourself in the liberation of the oppressed; to involve yourself in breaking every yoke that is put up on humanity. True Fast is to involve in Sharing of Food, Clothing and Shelter, thereby making yourself available for the sisters and brothers of humanity (Isaiah 58:6-7).

To Pray is to involve in a "wholistic prayer" and not a "self-centered prayer". Prayer involves two features: Greatness of God & Needs of People. Our prayers should involve Petitions; Laments appealing for Justice and Forgiveness; Intercession for those in need; and Thanksgiving for God's Help.

To Repent is to "Have a U-Turn Experience". Repent from being Self-Centered and Become Theo-Centered and Creation-Centric. Genuine Repentance is to Leave the Old & Cleave Anew. Repentance is never a once in a lifetime engagement, but an everyday experience, which moves us closer to the Divine & Creation. 

To Love is to be "Sacrificial". God's Love is Agape Love: Selfless and Sacrificial Love. The Love of today's world is "Reciprocal Love", which needs to be shunned. To Love is to become Sacrifices for the sake of Healing the World of its wounds.

To Forgive is the "highest form and expression of Love". Forgiveness is a catalyst that takes us to Reconciliation which in turn leads to Life in all its fullness. Forgive, not seven times a day, but rather seven times seventy a day (Luke 17:4 & Matthew 18:22). World is often unreasonable, ill-logical and self centered, but Forgive them. 

Season of Lent is a time of Retrospection and Transformation. When we retrospect ourselves with the values of the Reign of God (Fast, Pray, Repent, Love & Forgive), we will move towards transformation of ourselves, humanity and the world at large. Amen.