This is the month of fasting and penance. A time when everyone gives up something they love the most. An informal survey amongst people elicited interesting responses as to their attitude to Lent and how they intended to approach it. For quite a few people it was a time meant for contemplation.
Joanne da Cunha felt Lent was a time to train oneself to be more like Christ. She said “Now that we’re in the Lenten season, I think of the old times when Christians and Jews wore sack cloths and put ashes over themselves to show their repentance. Similarly, I’m trying to do something in my life on a low key, like abstaining from using crude or offensive language, doing my best to cut down on my use of social media, avoiding meat on Fridays, being more environmentally conscious by using less plastic and so on”.
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For Megan Amanda, this year instead of focusing on giving up something this year, she thought perhaps it was time to give more. She said, “I felt that giving up things weren’t really helping me or others so this lent me more time to God. I’ve started spending more time in prayer and reading the bible in the hopes of strengthening my relationship with God.”
Sherise D Souza has decided to devote more time to prayer, meditation and devotional/inspirational and gospel music. She had also decided to curb herself when it came to self indulgences in order to follow the discipline of the season.
Dolcy Alvares felt it was time to do something different. She said, “Lent was believed to be the time when each one or a few decided mainly to give up on meats, alcohol, sweets, and cigarettes. I too carried on with this tradition for some years, but this year I’ve told myself I’m going to do something different. Lent is not just the time to give up on good food but it’s also the time to reflect on yourself, of how you treat people, how you can be kind, forgiving people, to be helpful. There are many things that we could give up this Lent”. She decided It was time to give up gossiping, give up on buying unnecessary things, give up on passing rude comments and humiliating people on social media and importantly stop being judgmental. Lent she said was a time when one could discover a new self and bring a change. She said “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up. So, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all”.
Agnes Pinto said the period helped her detox. She said, “After months of fun, frolic and food starting from December, this period is a time for rest and recreation. Moreover the excitement is even more about relishing the Easter Chicken Biryani.” Without doubt an honest answer. Colin D Cruz said he was going to follow the Pope’s advice which is “don’t give up anything, just give away something to the less fortunate“.
For Jervis Pereira the period was a time for reflection. He said “While nourishing our bodies comes from food, our spirit is often neglected. This period of reflection allows us to focus more on spiritual nourishment over the physical one. As well all religions, periods of abstinence allows us to reflect on a deeper sustenance.”
Cezar D Mello said as a senior citizen, he was permitted to eat anything. Earlier he said he would have to take permission from the church to eat meat but that is not the case now. He said “In my case I decided to have non veg only on Wednesday and Friday other days I eat anything”.
Moses Pinto said that during this Lenten season he had suspended the ambition of aspiring for a better lifestyle. He said “After a brief reading of the Holy Texts prior to the start of Lent, I came upon the interpretation that the sacrifice does not have to be restricted only to dietary changes or towards temperance. Therefore, forfeiting one’s desire towards worldly pleasures and giving up the expectation of acquiring materialistic gratification shall suffice in proving the dedication to the Lenten cause”. He said he was already practicing a lifestyle that did not involve the consumption of non-vegetarian food, high-calorie sweets and the consumption of alcohol. In this season, he felt the need to become more tolerant towards others, expressing humility in his thoughts and actions while directing his intellectual energies towards an awareness of the inner-self devoid of any interaction with feelings of desire.
Savia Veigas took a more global view. She said, “The idea of Lenten fasting is a family tradition, so that continues regardless. We are simple eaters but something on a larger scale needs to be done to remind us of the war. But when you think of Lenten, now what comes to mind is the war that is going on in Russia and Ukraine. Innocent people are dying and as Christian people who want a peaceful life are in distress all over the world in Syria, Afghanistan. Ukraine and Russia are of great concern. In Christianity one can no longer look for individual salvation but we should intervene and take up issues of human Maury in crises. The pope should provide insights as to how Chris is able to provide a new foundation for world peace”.
For Ryan Rodrigues it was about personal well being. He said, “First of all it’s a personal man made rule to give up on food and beverages. This has nothing to do with the true spirit of lent. It’s more on personal well being. Lent should be about being a better human, helping the less fortunate including animals. This should be the true spirit of lent and continue all through the year leaving the drama aside.”
Of course there are also youngsters like Shimron Nathan who don’t fast for lent or Sherry who does not believe in anything religious. Well it takes all types.
Everyone has a different approach to this time in the Christian calendar and that is in itself an indicator of the various approaches of practicing their faith.
