Living your best Lent

By Sister Therese Ann Rich

We’re now in the great season of Lent, six weeks preparing to celebrate the high point of our faith: the Paschal Mystery, the suffering, death and resurrection of the Incarnate God.

Formerly, it was a time of severe penance to purify ourselves from sinful habits to celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with a renewed commitment to follow him.

But our reflections shouldn’t only focus on the negative. Over the coming weeks, we should ask ourselves:

• What positive things should be part of my life?
• How do I treat family, friends, colleagues & strangers?
• Am I active enough in my Christian community?
• What difference do I make to other people’s lives?
• How do I help eradicate abuses in our society?

Some things we can do are:

• Celebrate the Eucharist daily as often as possible.
• Set aside time daily day for personal prayer.
• Reflect on Scripture daily, alone or with others.
• Set aside money we might spend on wants to help the needs of the less fortunate.
• Remember that real penance is to live life well. Be the mercy and peace of God for others.