Every year, throughout Lent, we commit to strengthening our faith through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These are the three pillars of Lent.
Prayer – Traditionally Christians pray for themselves and others during this time of Lent. Through prayer we come closer to God so that we are better able to realise our baptismal promise to live justly as Jesus teaches us.
Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent.
Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason.
Almsgiving is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Sharing what we have, or ‘almsgiving’, is a sign of our commitment to justice and our thanks for all that God has given us.
Jesus brought the promise of hope to all people so that we may “Have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). May we be encouraged this Lent nto ‘be more’ in our own lives, and in the lives of others.
