Be prepared: What are you doing for Lent?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...The days fly by, especially in the midst of family life, and if you’re like my wife and me, you regularly have the experience on Ash Wednesday thinking, “Oh gosh, Lent is here already?” And then you spend the first week or so of actual Lent trying to figure out what you’re doing for your personal prayer and penance. This year, Lent starts about as late as it can in the calendar year and so, I’m making a commitment to be ready for this most holy time of year.
The days fly by, especially in the midst of family life, and if you’re like my wife and me, you regularly have the experience on Ash Wednesday thinking, “Oh gosh, Lent is here already?” And then you spend the first week or so of actual Lent trying to figure out what you’re doing for your personal prayer and penance. This year, Lent starts about as late as it can in the calendar year and so, I’m making a commitment to be ready for this most holy time of year.
With this bit of planning, I’m hoping for a more communal observance of the season in my family seeing as the Church, from ancient times, has called the family the Domestic Church. The whole Church enters this season together, so my Domestic Church will also make this journey of faith together. If you’re looking for some ideas for your own family to be united during this season, maybe some of these ideas can help.
Know thyself: It is important to know yourself, your spouse, and if you have children, to know them as well, and what each of you is capable of undertaking. It is important to engage in rituals, prayers, or practices that will bear fruit in your own home. So, if you’re not accustomed to much prayer or penance in your family, maybe putting the family on a bread and water fast throughout the season isn’t the best idea.
Confession: This whole season is about reconciliation with God. Jesus came to earth to teach, heal, and be an example for us, but primarily, he came to suffer, die, and rise and in so doing reunite us with the Father. What better way to unite our families with the mission of Christ than for the whole family to go to confession or attend a parish penance service together?
Fast: There are lots of ways to fast when you think of it as a method of denying yourself physical comforts or pleasures. Again, this is where a good sense of what the family can handle comes in handy. Maybe you fast from food, or maybe you designate a time and day when the whole family turns off their phones. Or maybe there is no music or podcasts in the car. Maybe the family gives up a certain television show during the season. Whatever it is, being a little uncomfortable is a feature, not a bug.
Prayer: It is important for a family to come together to encounter the Lord regularly. Maybe during the season of Lent you can go to the parish Stations of the Cross, or begin grace before meals by having everyone offer an intention for the family prayer.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that the motivation should always be love. Love is what motivated our Lord and love should be what motivates our journey through Lent. God bless
Richard Budd is the Director of Marriage and Family Life Ministry for the Diocese of Lansing.
