Semana Santa: The Season of Purple
Lent is the season to observe and commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God, our Saviour and Redeemer. It is an opportunity to repent our misdeeds and misgivings, and to increase the intensity of our prayer, fasting, almsgiving, the practice of our faith, and welcoming others as our brothers and sisters in our faith community. During Lent, we seek God in prayer, we serve by giving alms, and we practice self-control through fasting. It is a time consecrated to penance and this is mainly practiced by fasting. Fasting and abstinence are church-imposed penitential practices that deny us food and drink during the Lenten Season. These acts dispose us to free ourselves from worldly distractions, to express our longing for Jesus, to somehow imitate His suffering.
Lent is associated with certain kinds of sacrifice: giving up something one enjoys for the season, fasting, and abstinence at this time of pandemic entails greater responsibility and self-imposed discipline by everybody. We fast and abstain from the food we love to eat and drink in order for us to have a healthier body, mind, and spirit. We prohibit ourselves from leisurely travels, distance ourselves from loved ones and other relatives because of the possible threat of Covid transmission. Truly, this Lenten season is a matter of giving up and sacrificing things that we love and enjoy doing especially at this time of pandemic to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.
In practicing fasting and abstinence, we sacrifice much which helps us grow in freedom to make much bigger sacrifices. Part of this could be giving up some material or worldly resources and treasures for the benefit of the people who are most affected by this pandemic. We give up something or deprive ourselves of something so that others can have it. We become selfless and mindful of others, we extend charity and generosity to others even though we also are affected and still struggling and coping with the economic and financial problems brought by this pandemic. It’s a sacrifice for others and God. It is an act of love for others and God.
Fasting and abstinence is an act of penance to create spiritual hunger and the avoidance of sin. As an act of repentance and contrition at this time of the pandemic, we implore the presence of the Lord through prayer. It is our personal conversation with Him, a powerful tool to create miracles, to make things right and better in our lives. It leads us to a life of holiness towards God.
Hi Randel! I really like how you presented your idea about Lenten Season, you presented perfectly on what we do during Lenten season. Good job :3!
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