MARY'S PRAYER CONNECTION

Today for many the season of Lent marks a time of prayer and fasting. For forty days Catholics and other Christians spend time focusing on their relationship with God and others. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday so named because on this day many are marked in the sign of the cross with ashes. The palms left over from Palm Sunday are burned and the remaining ashes are used on Ash Wednesday.

During the day on Ash Wednesday many people are seen out and about with the ashes on their foreheads. The ashes remain throughout the day as a reminder of our sinfulness and a committment to repent for our sins during the season of Lent. Most who celebrate Ash Wednesday abstain from eating meat and those who are able fast from food and drink on this day.

Fasting for Catholics and other Christians means different things. For some it simply means going without food for the day. For others it means eating two small meals and one average meal, which does not exceed the amount of food consumed in the two small meals.

Some who observe the season of Lent abstaining from eating candy or other sweets while others abstain from watching TV and speed the time in prayer and reading of Scripture. They give up some of the things they normally do each day. Others give up  coffee, sugar, soft drinks, alcohol, cigarettes and other things they might do out of habit.

The observance of Lent is a time when we come face to face with the reality of how we are living our lives. Most people spend extra time looking inward and convict themsleves of signs of selfishness, rudeness, intolerance, injustice and other negative behaviors they strive to change during Lent. They work on changing their vices to virtues in order to become a better person. We strive during the season of Lent to replace bad habits with good habits.

Many reach out to others in need sacrificing their personal time, talents and treasure for the good of others. Lent is a good time to examine our lives and commit ourselves to doing things, which can improve the lives of others. Lent is a good time to turn bad habits into good habits.

We presently face a very uncertain future in our country and our world. The economy is forcing many of us to change and become more conscious of our wants and needs. Many are cutting back on how and when they spend money and during this season of Lent many of us can do more.

I hope your lenten season will be a time you have what you need and find room in your hearts to share with those who lack what they need. Lent is good time to discover our wants often exceed our needs and we can make a difference in the lives of others by letting go of our wants, to provide for the needs of others.