The most common association of Lent among modern Christians is the period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving that leads up to Easter, the celebration of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. Lent is traditionally a time to remember the sacrifice and suffering that Jesus underwent in His final days before His death, and to reaffirm one’s Christian beliefs and commitment to them. So, why do we fast during Lent Season?
First and foremost, fasting during Lent is a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice and of the importance of abstaining from trivial pleasures and focusing on our faith instead. Lent is meant to be a purifying period in which we are mindful of Jesus’s suffering on the cross and all that it symbolizes. By going without certain foods and luxuries and giving up our favorite activities, we remember Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice and what it stands for. As St. Augustine of Hippo said, “fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.”
Fasting during Lent symbolizes a period of repentance and spiritual renewal. It is a time devoted to becoming closer to God through prayer and sacrificial fasting. During Lent, we abstain from worldly goods, distractions, and temptations in order to better focus our attention on worship and fellowship with God. In this way, we can understand how our actions reflect our commitment to Christ, and how we can strive to act and think in accord with His will.
Christian fasting serves as a reminder of the need for charity and justice. God is searching for the heart of justice and loves those who strive to bring about God’s righteousness. We fast to draw attention to the injustice that lies in the world, as well as our own capacity for wrongs and shortcomings. Fasting also serves as tangible sign of our commitment to help others, to be better people of God, and to show others the grace of God.
Fasting during Lent is an important part of Christianity. It is a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice and of the power of a spiritual life devoted to God. It symbolizes a time of repentance and spiritual renewal, and a commitment to charity and justice. By abstaining from worldly pleasures, and engaging in prayer and almsgiving, we strive to be instruments of God’s grace and mercy.
If you need a peaceful place to pray, Celestial Meadows chapels in all its locations are open daily.
