Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent, just passed a little over a week ago, and to ready yourself for this new liturgical season, I hope you take the time to read this article so you can learn more about what Lent means for us Catholics. Lent is a time of preparation for the overwhelming joy of Easter, so it is important to live Lent devoutly and in a Christ-fearing way.

    Beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 18th this year) and concluding on the sundown of Holy Thursday, Lent is a time of penance and preparation that lasts 40 days. The 40 days of Lent are deeply rooted in the Bible, with the number 40 standing for “testing, trial, penance, purification, and renewal” (USCCB). In the Old Testament, the Great Flood that Noah endured lasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses traveled in the desert for 40 years before seeing the burning bush and being called to shepherd the Israelites, then Moses and God’s people traveled in the desert 40 years after escaping Egypt. Elijah, the great prophet, spent 40 days in the desert before having an encounter with God, and the Ninevites had 40 days to repent before God would destroy the city of Nineveh. In the New Testament, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert being tempted before beginning His public ministry. Clearly, both the number 40 and the desert have a deeper symbolism, so we can view this Lenten season as a sort of walk through the desert with God. We always face temptation, and this is a time when we have to especially seek to imitate Jesus. We must stay strong in the face of challenges, and remain patient, knowing that Easter lies ahead.

    Returning to the book of Jonah, after the prophet Jonah tells the Ninevites that God plans to punish them, the king encourages his subjects to repent. They wear sackcloths and ashes, and they fast. God then takes pity on the people, and spares them. Just like the Ninevites, we have to recognize that we often go astray, and that we sin. On Ash Wednesday, we mark our foreheads with ashes, showing our repentance. The Lenten season is a great time to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in order to ready our hearts for the Resurrection of the Lord.

    Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are three key components that accompany Lent. Fasting includes refraining from eating meat on Fridays as well as only eating one full meal and two smaller meals that do not add up to a full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I will not get into all of the details of rules about fasting partly for the sake of time, but I encourage you to visit this USCCB page, and scroll to Fasting and Resources on Fasting in order to find information about more of the rules.

    Prayer during Lent can take the form of praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays, as well as reflecting on the 7 last words of Jesus on the Cross. Prayer may seem like a chore at times, but connecting with God is necessary for the soul, and we always need to make the effort to seek God. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” Even when you are tired at the end of a long day, seek Him out! He will help you find meaning in your exhaustion and direction in your life.

    Almsgiving is also a necessary part of Lent. As teens, we may be able to give some money to help others, but most of our contributions will probably come from our time. Almsgiving can happen by volunteering at a soup kitchen, food pantry, or at your parish. In John 21, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, and then Jesus tells him to “feed my sheep.” We are called to feed Christ’s sheep, to tend to His sheep, to take care of His people. I encourage you to give up some time this Lenten season; try to make someone else feel loved. Even starting within your own house.

    This Lenten season, try to grow in a trust for God. In the midst of any challenges you may face, know that God has a plan for you, and that Easter will come. We must die with Christ in order to rise with Him, and suffer with Him in order to rejoice with Him. The quote “Never doubt in the darkness what you knew was true in the light,” resonates particularly with me. God loves you, and He is with you, even when it may not seem like it. If the situation seems bleak, remember past moments when God delivered you from suffering. He will never abandon you. Remember how God lifted up His Son from the dead. Take confidence in Him, who is almighty!

    To close, I want to share a tale that illustrates the greatness of God’s love. A man was walking alone in the desert. He was tired and hungry, and when he looked at the ground, he saw only one pair of footprints. So, he asked God why He had abandoned him. God replied, “The footprints are Mine, I have been carrying you on My shoulder.”

    This Lenten season, let us try to be humble, prayerful, generous, and loving. Let us help our brothers and sisters in need, trusting God to act through us.