SHANTI MARIA FONSECA
As we navigate the hustle and bustle of life, we will soon be on the doorsteps of the Lenten season. We live in a time that promises to deliver everything instantly. One click shopping, 10 seconds reels, 2 minute noodles and instant cof fee are just a few examples. The virtue of delayed gratification feels ancient. Waiting is incon venient. Lent steers us to the cross where we contemplate our fallenness, finiteness and frailty. It gives us the opportu nity to move from our broken ness to hope as we searchingly shift our gaze from the cross to the empty tomb. In a world designed to ex ploit our impulses, the Spirit of God leads us towards patience, discipline, hope and wisdom. Character is formed in waiting. Desire is purified through re straint. Joy deepens when we trust God’s timings. Immediate pleasures often leave us feeling unsatiated and empty. But de layed gratification offers pro found and lasting joy. The re ward is worth the wait. As the Apostle James says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” James (1:12). The world says you deserve it now. Jesus says, “Wait on me. Trust me. What’s coming is better than you can ever imagine.” Wait ing is not passive inaction. It is active trust. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a har vest if we do not give up (Gal 6:9). We observe Lent by fast ing from something we au tomatically gravitate toward. The Lenten season acts as a “spiritual spring” to transform our daily habits – video games, social media, limiting time spent on phone, Netflix, alco hol, meats etc. By intentionally cutting ourselves off from the things that temporarily sat isfy, we confront the fact that we may have created insidious idols of them. Lent is an invi tation to embark on a journey of conversion, a turning away from sin and towards God. The ashes symbolise our mortality and the need for repentance, but they also signify hope, as new life should emerge from the ashes. We live in a “consumerist” and acquisitive society where success is determined by the amount of riches we have ac quired. The crucial question is: Will the season of Lent help us gain a proper perspective toward our belongings? Je sus taught his followers a vital lesson when he responded to a rich man who approached him. The man wanted to know how he could attain eternal life claiming to have obeyed all the commandments. Know ing what he lacked, Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21). The man had no idea that his wealth was holding him back and he was unwilling to give up his earthly possessions! Like the rich man, we sometimes think our superficial acts of generosity please God. The truth is, our priorities are mis placed. We often do not realise our possessions are preventing us from truly experiencing God. Lent can help us loosen the grip our possessions have on us. We need to analyse every aspect of our lives to determine if there are any obstacles standing in the way of our total surrender to God. The goal of observing Lent is to return to God “hole heartedly,” comprehensively, and in every aspect of life. It is a “spring cleaning” of the Soul, aimed at reducing distraction to fully refocus on one’s rela tionship with the Almighty. Rather than simply fasting from food, we ought to move into fast-forward by shunning sin. Remove from our lives all those elements which are pull ing us away from God. Lent is not about fasting; but discov ering the fullness of God. “Re member you are dust and to dust you shall return” “Memen to mori” (reminder of death); encouraging humility and a re turn to God. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Lent is a time to recognise the depth of our sinfulness and cry out to God about the broken ness around us – and within us (Job 42:6). It provides space to grieve how this world current ly operates and to re-set and renew our relationship with God. Lent is a time to reflect not only on our personal sins but also the sins of society. It is a time to confront the injustices that prevail in our world and commit ourselves to work for a more just and equitable society. Jesus demonstrated a deep concern for the poor and the marginalised. The Lenten season calls us to follow His footsteps and to be agents of change in the world. Whoever is kind and gracious to the poor and the underprivileged, lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done. God is the borrower, the re turn is guaranteed. God “never defaults” on his word and will reward them. The repayment from God is not necessarily ma terial wealth. It also includes spiritual blessings, inner peace and eternal rewards. Lent is a time that makes us jointly re sponsible for one another. It de taches us from our selfishness, small mindedness, meanness, anger and pride; it is a time that enlightens us and helps us better understand that we too, like Christ, must sublimate ourselves and be virtuous. Let us use our Lenten journey to see how we can be lights in the world. Together, we can uplift one another and create a brighter tomorrow. Lent is a time for us to em brace our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, recognizing that our strength comes from God. It is a time to surrender our lives to His will and allow Him to reshape us into the very person He created. Observing Lent is not a Biblical mandate. Yet it offers us an opportunity to reflect on the gruesomeness of the cross and the greatness of God’s love revealed in Christ laying down his life to rescue, redeem and restore us. The rich symbolism of Ash Wednes day reminds us of our own fra gility and humanness – that we are dust and to dust we shall re turn. Self-reflection, simplicity and sincerity (honesty) are em phasized throughout the Lent en season. Lent is a “Spiritual Reset”. It provides a structured, annual pause to re-evaluate priorities shedding distractions and indulgences in a high paced conflict ridden world. While the 21st century offers instant access to goods and entertain ment, Lent encourages self-de nial and intentional simplicity. It promotes social responsibil ity and compassion, with a fo cus on generosity and helping others. The purpose of Lent is to slow down and remember why Easter matters by reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice and spending time drawing closer to him. It is a time for us to re-evaluate our relationships with our selves, our society and God. Lent invites us to escape from the life of the flesh and into the life of the spirit (1 Peter 1:17 21). When we stop drinking from the broken cisterns of the world, we gain a heightened awareness that our deep thirst can only be quenched by the living water (Jer. 2:13). Lent is a season of remembrance: re member who you are and to whom you belong. Seek still ness in your heart; let it be a sanctuary where you can hear God’s whispers.” (The writer is a social scientist and a Sr. practicing criminal lawyer).
