Lenten Practices: Prayer, Fasting and Abstinence, cont.

In Lent, we have three primary practices that we as Catholics are called to; Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Fasting is probably the best known Lenten tradition, but also the least understood at the same time.  Fasting is a way to bring us back to having Christ as the center of our lives.  So why is not eating meat on Fridays and giving up something a way to bring us closer to Christ?  Our English translation tells us “The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products.”  But why is this important to know?  We look towards the cross and remember that on Good Friday Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice of his body and flesh to save us from our sins.  So every Friday in Lent we will prepare to unite with Christ by giving up the flesh that feeds our bodies.  And since our bodies and souls are connected, any sacrifice to the body helps us to grow spiritually in our journey to unite us in the body of Christ.  This minor act of abstaining from meat on our part points us towards Good Friday when God showed that he loved us so much that he gave up his flesh to have us be with Him. As Lent approaches we should challenge ourselves to use Lent as a way to come closer to Christ.  How can you use the gifts of Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting to gain a better relationship with Jesus?  Will you be ready to celebrate Easter when Jesus comes back to us and have your heart open to him?                                                                                                             Father Maria Joseph Kodiganti