Spiritual Perspectives
Lent: A time for praying, fasting, and almsgiving

Sister MaryMatthias Ward
Special to The Independent

If you met anyone with "dirt" on their forehead on Wednesday, March 1, you probably knew it was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent... and that those people were wearing ashes to remind themselves "to turn from evil and to follow the Gospel" ...and the Gospel for Ash Wednesday suggested that we pray, fast, and give alms.

Lent is a special time for Catholics... but Lent actually seems to be sacred to most Christians. Most likely Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion," has made us aware of and has kept us in touch with the sufferings of Christ. We are reminded to offer our sufferings, to unite our pain with the sufferings of Jesus.

Many of us attempt to increase our spirituality, our relationship with God, during the season of Lent. Today we hear much about spirituality New Age Spirituality and other forms. Some forms are new fads. It is wise to remember that Christianity has a long and rich tradition. We know that in good times and in bad times, Jesus prayed. What better model of a prayerful person could we have?

Since the time of the apostles, Christian tradition has spread within the organized church and outside it. We know that for prayer to be essential in our lives, we need habits. There are different habits which appeal to different personalities. Some are: Begin your day by reading a chapter of one of the gospels. Have a special time and place for prayer and meditation each day. Lectio Divina Holy Reading is important. Simply pay attention to God, listen to God. Take a few minutes to write down five things for which you are grateful.

Another way to develop your spiritual life is to make a retreat. A retreat is time away from the regular routine of daily living. Get in touch with Sacred Heart Retreat Center by calling 505-722-6755. Watch the daily paper, The Independent, for happenings at Sacred Heart Retreat Center and elsewhere. Read your local church bulletin for listings.

The whole thrust of Lent is to deepen our spirituality... our relationship with God. I wish to develop this by looking at four disciplines: Fasting, Meditation, Journaling, and Pilgrimage.

Fasting dates back to early Christianity. Jesus fasted. John the Baptist fasted. The prophets fasted. In a fast, one chooses, for a set time, to do without something that is hard to do without. This is done so that this thing that we think we need doesn't become a god... doesn't come between the person and God.

Usually, the fast is doing without food. But it doesn't necessarily have to be food. One can fast from shopping, watching soap operas, surfing the Internet, playing games... whatever seems to consume time and energy. Lots of times, being a consumer consumes us spiritually.

We fast, generally speaking, for self-purification. It is not dieting. It is not self-punishment. Fasting can be helpful, but it isn't required.

Taking time for meditation is good. It's finding a place for silence. It might be lighting a candle, being before a holy picture, an icon... then becoming silent. It is entering into the silence to "be still and know God." It could be breathing in "Jesus," and breathing out the word "mercy." It may be just simply being there for a time in silence with God.

Journaling doesn't seem to be for all people, but for some it is a great experience. Personally, I feel there are no rules for journaling. Usually journals are as varied as the individuals writing. Some write letters to Jesus, some record events of the day, some write daily, and some write sporadically. One's journal is personal and usually about the struggle of being in relationship with God.

One may wish to write on the question: where did I encounter God today? Or you may want to journal to become positive in thought for the day. The journal belongs to the writer. The writer will come to know and love the writer.

A pilgrimage is a source of grace... a kind of prayer in motion. It's a means of growing in faith. Scripture shows us the significance of setting out to go to sacred places. Jesus went with Mary and Joseph as a pilgrim to Jerusalem to fulfill the Law.

One doesn't have to run off to Europe, Asia or Mexico, but one could. As a family, or as an individual, you might drive to the Prayer Hogan in St. Michaels, Arizona or to the Hogan Catholic Church in Chinle.

It is my belief that the Holy Spirit guides us. So there is a need to pay attention to the graces that will await us along the way.

I have a friend who walks 400 to 500 miles across Spain with a group of pilgrims. They pray together, suffer the difficulties together, meet new friends together. My friend said it always reminds her of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

For some, Lent is Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Almsgiving is a willingness to forego some of what we think is necessary for life... for those who have nothing... a willingness to give generously.

Lent is a time to return to God. Whatever church we've belonged to will happily welcome us home.

Sister Mary Matthias Ward is the director of the Sacred Heart Retreat Center, located two miles south of Gallup. She can be contacted at (505) 722-6755 or smmward@cnetco.com.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, wishing to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.