Lent: "Spring Training"

Lent: "Spring Training"

Gospel Reading for Ash Wednesday: Matthew 6.1-6; 16-18

When I was at the ACSTA's Symposium on Catholic education two weekends ago, I had the privilege of being at a table with Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary. Before the sessions started we were chatting about how can we best bring the Good News to people of today. Bishop Henry told me about an interview he had with a reporter, who didn't get why we "do Lent" (as an aside, the reporter told Bishop Henry that he was a Catholic!).

Bishop Henry said something like this:

"Look at it this way. It's just like spring training. Every year, the ball teams go down to the Southern USA with a few extra pounds, some rusty skills and some bad habits. Spring training gets them ready to be the best they can be for the season ahead.

That's what Lent does- by following the disciplines of Lent, we become better prepared disciples to celebrate the glory of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It gives our bodies, minds and souls a "spring training"

What a great metaphor for Lent! Thank you Bishop Henry!

So what are these "disciplines" of Lent?

There are a lot of excellent resources that explain why them. I suggest you read this article that I found from the National Catholic Register. It gets at the heart of the three disciplines: Praying, Fasting, and Giving Alms.

The three disciplines have been around way before the time of Jesus, and simply put, they help remind us of our own weaknesses and sinfulness. By fasting, we are reminded that we are not controlled by our own desires, and we have the capacity to give up a "good" for a "greater good"- life in God. We intensify or increase our prayer time, reminding us that to live in God's love, we need to listen to His voice. Finally we decrease our material wealth, and our egoism, by giving of our time, talent and treasure to those less fortunate than we. We are stewards of our wealth, not owners- giving reminds us of that.

In the Ash Wednesday Gospel, the "kick-off" to our spring training (oops, I mixed sports metaphors here!!), Jesus gives us an important warning- the disciplines are meant to put a hold on our pride and ego, not intensify it. Unlike spring training camp, where the sports media watch every move, the Lenten disciplines are a call to humility- to be loud and proud about the disciplines is, as Jesus says, what the hypocrites do. 

It is a delicate balance- on the one hand, you should explain what you are doing during Lent to children and other seekers as a way of sharing your faith, but on the other hand you don't want to trumpet your efforts. So be "pure and humble of heart" and you can't go wrong.

Some considerations as you begin your lenten journey:

Here are some tips to think about for a great spring training:

1. If you pray only in the morning, or at night, do both.

2. Pray, out loud, a blessing before each meal. Here are some great prayers before meals.

3. If you give something up for Lent, and "break" your promise, don't give up! Start again the next day

4. Find a book on spirituality, prayer, the life of a saint etc. and read from it every day.

5. Read the Gospel reading of the day during Lent. At this site, you can get it e-mailed every day.

6. If you have ab I-pod, I phone etc., try "Pray as You Go."

7. Go to confession. This year, the Archdiocese of Edmonton's Day of Confessions is March 18th. Check you local parish for the times

8. Also check your parish for extra prayer events. At my parish we'll be having the Stations of the Cross every Friday, followed by a Fish Fry put on by the Knights of Columbus. Prayer and Fellowship- doesn't get better than that!

9. Besides giving up food, why not try to "fast" from impatience? Gossip? Worry? These are tough, but the three disciplines will help.

10. Above all, journey this Lent with a joyful and humble heart.

Happy Spring Training!