A Time of Sorrow? Lent a Time of Joy!

Lent is often considered a gloomy season, a time of sacrifice, penance and that pesky practice of no meat on Friday, although the latter is not so burdensome in south Louisiana.

But Lent can also be a time of great joy and anticipation as the faithful accompany Jesus along the path to his resurrection.

Sadness? Bleakness? Think again, said Dina Dow, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

“Lent is the most wonderful time of the year,” Dow said in a statement not often associated with the 40 days that shadow the Mardi Gras season.  

“I love Lent because you are talking about the three spiritual pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving,” Dow said. “Lent is a time to fill our hearts with the resurrected Lord. We could never be sad when walking to the resurrection of our Lord. 

“Without Easter, we would have no Christmas.”

Dow said Lent presents an opportunity to focus on one’s relationship with Christ, a time to repent from sins, make reparations, repair any brokenness and simultaneously look forward to what is about to happen because the paschal mystery is the greatest moment in the history of time.

She said nothing compares to Christ’s death and resurrection and “we should be on our knees, happy, running up and down the street. Mardi Gras has nothing on Easter.

“We should not be walking around with sad faces, because there is joy in the Gospel.”

Dow said Lent is a time of purification, of getting closer to God because the time is coming to celebrate such a high fest. Rather than being sad, “we would think it would be a more joyous occasion building up to that.

“Easter is the reason we live.”

Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are profound steps on the Lenten journey, a way to talk in holiness, taking baby steps toward the paschal mystery. 

Regarding the pillar of prayer, Dow said there are many resources available, including books, prayer pamphlets, digital outlets, speakers and prayer booklets that draw individuals to meditation. 

She said some of those resources can even be received daily electronically.

Taking it even further, Dow noted that prayer can be  something as simple as preparing for daily Mass, reading the daily readings or preparing for Sunday Mass by reading the upcoming readings, especially the Gospel.

She explained the Sunday readings during Lent tell the story of the leadup to the resurrection.

“Every Sunday is a monumental day to read the readings, pray the readings and then mediate on the readings,” Dow said. “Read (the Gospel) again and ask the Lord to open your heart.

“Those are the simplest, reliable, most consistent prayers because it is the word of God speaking; no commentary.”

“Prayer helps strengthen our relationship with God, deepen our relationships with other people, helps our heart be awaken (to the Holy Spirit) and calls us to deeper ways of conversion,” she added.

Conversion can also come in the form of alms giving, Dow said.

“When we sacrifice that which was given to us, monetarily by God because of the opportunities to have ways to earn money, we give alms to those who for whatever reason are asking for money or asking for assistance,” Dow said. “People have been struggling financially because of COVID. Give people a gift card, buy them dinner or give them something they need.”

Noting “little coins go very far,” Dow also suggested donating to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Easter Basket, the Rice Bowl or other parish fundraisers.

But dollars and cents are not to almsgiving. It also includes donating of time, perhaps making a phone call to someone who is hurting, sending flowers, leaving a heartfelt message to those who might be suffering. 

Fasting can be a bit trickier, especially with enticing Lenten specials splashed across every restaurant menu. Can it really be a fast, or even a sacrifice, if one devours a seafood platter for lunch and saves room for double digit pounds of boiled crawfish for dinner?
“In south Louisiana we are really challenged when it comes to fasting,” Dow said. “Some are really good at it.”

Tradition holds that fasting includes two light meals and what might be considered a more normal meal throughout the day.

She suggested a fasting Friday lineup of half a bagel for breakfast, a salad with seafood for lunch and a cup of soup for dinner.

“Fasting (for those who are physically able) is a really definitive, known act of holiness if it is done in the right disposition,” Dow said. “If you are doing it for God’s glory, it can bring someone to an incredible conversion of God.

“Make sure it is spiritual conversion and not a detriment to your body. That is not what God is calling us to do.”

Although almost always linked to food, Dow said fasting takes on other forms as well, including spending less time browsing the Internet, social media or watching one’s favorite television show. She said Lent opens a spiritual window to fast from one’s favorite activities and redirect that time to prayer.

“Fast from that behavior, which is pleasing to me, and in place of it do something that would build my relationship with God, build my relationship with other people, help me in a more prayerful way,” Dow said. “So how am I fasting from something else and then creating a greater habit, a deeper purpose, such as swapping television programs to watch Catholic programming? Or go outside and do healthy habits, like take a walk. 

“The reason why we are doing this is to follow the path back to calvary and to walk with Jesus.” 

Dow said the temptation that is inevitable is a reminder of the intent of the sacrifice, whether it is for an individual, a cause or one’s own desire to have a deeper relationship with Christ. She said when put in the  context that Jesus sacrificed every drop of blood on the cross for everything that was previously, was happening at the time and would happen until the second coming puts the pains of going another hour without a snack into perspective.

“It’s a great reminder of not what I can give up but more of what can I do to offer my sacrifices with Jesus?” she said.

So wipe off the frown and put on a happy face. 

“At Christmas you get presents, you have parties,” Dow said. “How come we are not doing that during Lent?’