Theres is no doubt it, Lent strikes a chord and touches something deep down in all our hearts, as it presents us with challenge to reject sin and to be faithful to the God of love. Fasting, prayer and alms-giving have been traditionally the central elements of Lent for the Christian. They are the tools which we have been taught to use, in order to edge closer to God, as we continue our journey through life. For some, Lent means giving up alcohol ang going off cigarettes, while others see it as a time for giving to famine relief and for going to church daily. Whatever type of penance we undertake, our motive is all important. If we fast and deprive ourselves of food and simply to have a slimmer figure, or if we give alms to establish a reputation as a do gooder in the parish or community our efforts are of little avail. We have received our reward and are no closer to God.
And the start of his public ministry, Jesus went into the desert for forty days and it is because of this that we must keep the holy season of Lent. We relive his experience in an attempt to establish a deeper bond and a closer freindship between God and ourselves. The journey we makes is an inward one, into the wilderness of our innermost self, to stand before God in all sincerity and truth. This helps us to see ourselves as we really are and as we take stock of what we are doing with our time and talents, we become more aware of our own sinfulness. The need to change and renew the struggle againts evil by prayer, fasting and penance becomes painfully obvious. The penance we perform should make us realize that the spiritual things of life are more important than the materials. As we become concious of our own faults, we realize that changes need to be made.
If we happen to be one of those people whose specialty is always to assume the worst in everyone, perhaps it's time to take a hard look at our gossiping, backbiting, and scanda mongering. A simple vow to hold our tongue might prove a useful medicine. We could make a resolution to be pleasant to the pperson with whom we always seem to clash and whom we just cannot stand. What would be wrong with giving up alcohol and gambling if they are the cause of friction and unhappiness in the home? Daily prayer is of importance to us all, as it is the vital-line in our freindship with God. Our invitation to a personal relationship with Christ cannot be achieved without prayer. We must give top priority to this exercise, which strengthens our faith and trust and bring us closer to Him. Lent is a time for soul searching. It is a season when we are challenged to measure up to the call of God in various aspects of life and to take practical steps to face the evil of sin and sinfulness spoils our growth in the love of God. Lent is a season of grace to be taken seriously, if we intend it to be a purifying experience of vital spiritual worth.
The challenge of saying "NO" to ourselves ang "YES" to God is what constitutes the struggle.


Lent is the time for us to reflect and repent for the wrongdoings that we have done.