Lent is one of the most important seasons, not only in the Catholic liturgical year, but in the lives of Christians everywhere. In fact, for most Catholics, it is considered even more important than Advent. It is a time when many people take time to reflect on the Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Usually, Lent is considered as a time of deep prayer and repentance, making small and big sacrifices especially in the form of fasting and abstinence, and doing acts of charity.
Whatever faith you conform to, the break from work and school which is observed during the Lenten period can be a perfect opportunity to better yourself and share a more meaningful and memorable time with your family:
1. Give something up.
The usual tradition during Lent is to practice fasting and abstinence. Basically, it is all about giving up something that gives one satisfaction or pleasure for a higher purpose. To make it simpler, remember to have everything in “simpler and smaller portions.” While this would commonly apply to food, there are other things that we could fast on and abstain from, and along the way pick up some lessons on self-control and discipline:
• Smoking – It is detrimental to your health, anyway. And think about how much money you could save if you weren’t lighting up! You could put the money instead into a money-making vehicle such as a mutual fund, or better yet, donate it to a charitable institution like ANCOP, Grace To Be Born or Gawad Kalinga.
• Eating junk food and sweets, drinking soda or gourmet coffee – Your waist and hips will thank you for this sacrifice! You will also be less prone to diabetes, kidney stone formation and obesity, among other things. You will most probably end up spiritually and physically fit after forty days of giving these up. Again, this would also translate to more savings.
Click here to see more things to you can do this Lenten season.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see more things to you can do this Lenten season.
• Impulse buying / overspending on things you don’t need – A lot of us have the habit of shopping for things we don’t really need, but because they are “on sale” or are in fashion, we still end up buying them. This can actually become an “addiction” for many people, women and men alike! A lot of people end up with thousands of pesos worth of credit card debt but still go to that Weekend Sale whenever it’s on. This Lent would be a fitting time to stop this habit, and be grateful for what one already has, instead of wishing and buying what one does not need.
• Telebabad – Many Filipinos (though people from other countries are not exempted!) have the addictive habit of watching their favourite teleseryes or television shows for hours on end. In many families, watching TV is considered one, if not the only, activity they do together. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be quite destructive to the family’s relationships. Parents and children end up having their meals in front of the TV, without interacting with one another. Take the opportunity this Lent to have a real family meal together. Talk about anything under the sun. After eating, dust off that old Monopoly or Pictionary boardgame, sing your favourite songs together, or pray together for the family’s intentions.
• Gambling – It is a well-known fact that many Filipinos love to gamble, whether it’s in swanky casinos or sweaty-smelling cockfighting arenas. A lot of us are addicted to using our hard-earned money to place bets, in the hopes of winning big. Sadly however, this does not usually happen, and we end up with an even deeper hole in our pockets. Try giving up your gambling habit, not just for Lent, but forever, and you will reap the rewards in the end.
• Gossip – Admit it, we LOVE chismis – we talk about our neighbours, our officemates, celebrities, even our own relatives, etc. Often, the things that we say don’t build up others but destroy them i.e. tarnish their reputations, make people doubt them, etc. This Lent, let’s try following the rule “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” Let us not focus on the negative qualities or bad experiences of others, but focus on the good and essential. If cultivated, this is a habit that could make the world a better place for all.
Click here to see more things you can do this Lenten season.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see more things you can do this Lenten season.
• Playing games, stalking people and doing other things on Facebook – More and more people are becoming connected through Facebook every day. However, as with anything, when used the wrong way, Facebook could also impact negatively on our lives. Some people stay up for long periods of time to “keep connected”, when that time and energy could have been used for something more productive, like catching up on much-needed sleep, learning how to earn income, reading a good book, playing with the kids, or, especially during the Lenten season, maybe even reading a chapter or two from the Bible. Open the “Faithbook” instead of Facebook.
2. Find some quiet time.
In the busy, fast-paced world that we live in, we experience a lot of noise. We are worked up over getting rich, satisfying ourselves, pursuing our dreams and raising our families. Many times, we may find ourselves seeking some peace and quiet, a break from our normal frenzied lives. This is especially true for moms who work and stay at home moms. Lent is a perfect time to find some quiet time. One can start with about five minutes every day, in a quiet spot in your home or office. Take deep, relaxing breaths, shut out all thoughts and distractions, and be still for it is only when we are quiet that we can be flooded with peace. Many churches, schools and organizations have recollections or retreats during Lent, and you may want to check out this year’s schedule, or even seek out the help of religious congregations, individuals or institutions like the Center for Family Ministries in setting up a retreat or recollection especially for you.
3. Pray and read the Bible.
Lent would also be a great time to start a daily habit of prayer and reading the Bible. One need not feel intimidated by the thought of setting aside a specific time for prayer. You only need to make a decision and stick to it. Try praying for at least five minutes once you wake up, another five on your way to work or school, then another five at night. Throughout your day, lift up your concerns and thoughts in the form of short and to-the-point prayers. If you get stuck in traffic, you may even wish to try praying the Rosary (if you’re Catholic) or other forms of prayer. “How should I pray?” one may ask. The key here is to pray from the heart. Look at prayer the same way you would a conversation with a dear friend. Speak what’s on your mind, pour out what’s in your heart. If you don’t know where to start with your Bible reading and reflections, the following links may be of help to you:
Click here to see websites you can check out this Lenten season.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see websites you can check out this Lenten season.
• Kerygma Family – A borderless, non-physical community initiated by renowned Catholic lay preacher, Bo Sanchez. (When you become a member, you are entitled to receive daily Bible reflections in your e-mail, plus other inspirational resources. You also get to support ministries for the elderly and pregnant mothers in crisis, send disadvantaged kids to school, and a lot of other good things.)
• Faith of A Centurion – A Reflection Blog By Fr. J-Boy Gonzales, SJ
• God Is Enough For Me – Daily Reflections and Songwriting Tips By A Husband, Dad, Lay Missionary and Songwriter
• The Catholic Daily Reading Reflections Blog – A blog of reflections by an ordinary lay Catholic who loves reading the Bible
• EWTN Devotionals – Devotions from the EWTN Global Catholic Network Website
• The Word Among Us – A Catholic Devotional Magazine based on the Daily Mass Readings
• Daily Scripture Readings And Meditations – Meditations written by Don Schwager intended as an aid for daily prayer and meditation.
4. Give love, show kindness.
One of the things most Christians and Catholics include in their to-do lists for Lent is doing acts of charity. This would be a perfect time to teach your children and other family members about the beauty of giving from the heart, even if we feel like we may not have enough for our own needs. You could get your kids to start putting money into a coin bank - a certain amount for the forty days of Lent. At the end of Lent you could donate the amount to a charitable institution of your choice. Perhaps you could also try organizing trips to a home for the elderly, an orphanage, or visit the pediatric ward of a hospital. You could even participate in building homes for the poor with movements like Gawad Kalinga. The key here is not performing acts of kindness only on a large scale, but doing it every day in the small, ordinary things, to the people you encounter on a daily basis.
Click here to see more things you can do this Lenten season.
[previous|page|next]
Read on to see more things you can do this Lenten season.
5. Have your own special Stations of the Cross.
Lastly, what would Lent be without doing the Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross? It is a perfect prayer activity for reflecting on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Most churches organize the Way of the Cross on a weekly basis, usually every Friday. Check out your local parish’s schedule and try to make it a family affair. Some families opt to do the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday by making a pilgrimage of sorts to different churches around town. Here are a few links to get you started:
• Stations Of The Cross For Families (Word file – A guide for families)
• The Stations of the Cross by Domestic-Church.com
• Stations of the Cross – Especially for Children
• Stations of the Cross from Catholic Online
• Stations of the Cross for Children – Activity idea from Family In Feast and Feria
• Lenten Activities for Children
• Family Stations of the Cross from Adoremus.org
Wishing all SP readers from all faiths a blessed and beautiful Lenten season ahead!
Photo from sxc.hu
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod
