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April 15th – April 20th:
The six–week liturgical season of Lent is a time when each Christian is called to journey with Jesus in a much more serious manner than the rest of the liturgical year. Lent is not meant to be the season of “gloom and doom,” but one of “joy and praise”. The word “lent” actually means “springtime,” and spring is a time when many people find good reason to celebrate with great joy. After all winter’s snow is melting away, the cold weather is breaking, and the days are becoming longer and sunnier. The season of Lent allows Christians to deepen their commitment to God as they strive to develop a deeper and meaningful personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, Lent should not be the season of moping around; it should be a season where one “gets right with God.” The goal is to honestly examine your life in light of God's Word and to make a commitment to change in any areas you have not submitted to the Lord. Fasting is a great way to eliminate, cleanse, and purify the body from toxic waste. Fasting is the world’s most ancient and natural healing mechanism. Fasting triggers a truly wondrous cleansing process that reaches right down to each and every cell and tissue in the body.
Within 24 hours of curtailing food intake, enzymes stop entering the stomach and travel instead into the intestines and into the bloodstream, where they circulate and gobble up all sorts of waste matter, including dead and damaged cells, unwelcome microbes, metabolic wastes, and pollutants. All organs and glands get a much needed and well–deserved rest, during which their tissues are purified and rejuvenated, and their functions balanced and regulated. The entire alimentary canal is swept clean. Surely one of the most overlooked and yet most valuable modes of healing that will be rediscovered in the future of the new medicine is the fast. This is because of the increasing interest in looking to oneself for healing powers. For the fast is an inward process and cannot be entered upon only from an outer approach with any expectation of a lasting benefit. The person must invariably be involved with the overall results. This therapeutic encounter is in direct contrast to the usual non–involvement in the physician-directed, disease-oriented medical practice of today. Eating the right foods will protect and combat your body from disease, stress, fatigue, mood swings and control your weight. It will also, stimulate your mind and improve brain functioning. Prior to your fast, at least three days in advance, begin reducing the amount of food you eat. You should focus on adding foods to your diet, such as: nuts, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and natural juices to prepare your body. Remember to drink plenty of water and stay away from processed foods and sugar. If you have medical challenges, you should consult your physician.
Therapeutic fasting is an excellent self–healing practice. It induces metabolic changes that are inherently cleansing and repairing. The organs empty and rest, conserving energy, promoting the elimination of waste and accumulated toxins, and making cell regeneration much more efficient. Fasting is mankind's most ancient healing strategy.
Practicing Lent Today:
As with Advent, you can benefit from celebrating Lent even if your church does not formally do so. Here are some of the key elements of the Lenten season, along with some of the symbolism that comes with it. Many of these practices can be celebrated both individually and as a community:
Purple:
Like Advent, the official color for Lent is purple. Usually, churches that celebrate Lent choose the deepest, darkest shade of purple for this special season. They may also strip their churches bare of some of the usual decorations adorning the walls. Purple is the color of repentance for sins and also symbolizes the state of our souls outside the light of Christ. During this time, pray for those who do not know Christ and for those who have sinned gravely against Him.
Confession:
As mentioned above, Lent is a penitential season, even more so than Advent. The 40 days are set aside to really examine areas of recurring sin in our lives that prevent us from being conformed to God’s Will. When I look into the eyes of our suffering God, I'm in awe - suddenly the complexity of our Lord, the love of our Lord, the humanity of our Lord shows through. God is not just some hazy energy source or a grandfather sitting in the clouds, nevertheless He is so much more. The Cross is where our faith stands when all other faith’s fail. Christ’s sacrifice and his subsequent resurrection are the true "cruxes" of the Christian faith. Without one there would be no salvation, without the other, no hope. This is why Good Friday and the following Easter Sunday are the most important dates on the Christian calendar, even more so than Christmas.
