We have entered the time of change; our Lenten days are here.
During Lent, we often look for things we can give up. Extra snacks, sweets, and other food pleasures are popular as small sacrifices. If we make this effort without examining our soul’s needs we might miss the greatest of opportunities that comes from the Lenten season.
Lent should be a time when we welcome the Lord to come closer, to enter more deeply into our hearts and our lives. Of course it is always a blessing if we use this time to make some effort to rid ourselves of bad habits. We might try to be more patient with those around us; our families and co-workers. But the most important choice we could make is to find more room in our hearts for Jesus.
Remember the soda pop commercial a few years ago that claimed to be “the pause that refreshes”? Lent can be that for us; a time when we pause from our daily routine and usual prayers to seek a closer relationship with the Lord.
How do we open our hearts? We might spend some time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, add an extra rosary or simply take a walk in the fresh air and talk to Jesus. He is always beside us and ready to listen. We can find peace and encouragement by taking ourselves away from the distractions of technology and tune in to the most important source of communication; the One who nourishes our souls.
Those who participate in the Apostleship of Prayer and pray the morning offering are aware that all that we do each day and all of the experiences that we have, can be centred on Jesus. Through this prayer we include the intentions of the Holy Father and in this way, unite with him and millions of other seeking souls.
Lent is a beautiful time for improvement. We cannot hope to make a difference in the world if we are not prepared to grow in truth and wisdom ourselves. None of us is perfect and God knows that. All He expects is that we embrace each new day with an earnest desire to give our best effort and pray to follow His will.