Lent: A season to give of oneself

LUCKNOW: It''s one thing to give to others, it''s another matter to curtail one''s desires and sacrifice, so that one may be able to give to others instead. This, in essence, is the spirit of Lent. A season in the Christian calendar when followers of Christ renounce material pleasures and comforts in their lives and take on a life of prayer, fasting and alms-giving.
"Man, or the finite being, who is prone to earthly attractions, and the spiritual soul — the sign of the Creator — aspire for a union. It is through the renunciation of material goods that we can attain spiritual infiniteness," explains Rt Rev Bishop Albert D''Souza, at St Joseph''s Cathedral.
As the legend goes, observing Lent has it''s origins in the time of Prophet Moses. At that time, when the righteous and God fearing were being tortured and enslaved by the Pharaoh in Egypt, they were rescued from their misery and pain, and led out of Egypt by the Prophet Moses.
"These people who had faith in God had to face many hardships before they reached the Promised Land, and every time they confronted a problem, they prayed to God for help. It later became a custom amongst the Jews to fast and pray for a certain number of days, as it was believed that this cleanses one''s soul," explains the Rt Rev Bishop D''Souza.
For the Christians, the Lenten season denotes the forty days leading to Good Friday, the day when Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. This period of time begins with Ash Wednesday, which is 40 days before Good Friday. "Easter is supposed to coincide with the full moon in summer, so accordingly, we calculate Ash Wednesday. It also marks the end of the spring season," explains Rt Rev Bishop D''Souza.
"Lent is also a time to remind ourselves that the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to redeem mankind of their sins," says Father Robert Pinto, the parish priest St Joseph''s Cathedral. This a season when people take on physical discomfort so that they can conquer evil and choose the path of righteousness.
Lent, a word which essentially means the season of spring, is a reminder of the sacrifice made by Lord Jesus Christ for the love of humankind, so that we could all achieve an eternal life in heaven, explains Father Pinto. Lord Jesus destroyed death by dying on the cross.
It is for this reason that Christians refrain from pleasure, fast, and save whatever they can, to give to the poor and the needy. Penance is also an important part of observing Lent. Rt Rev Bishop D''Souza sums up the spirit of Lent, saying: "Contribution towards the reformation of humanity based on justice, peace, fellowship and mutual well-being is desired during this season. And the message of Lent is — may evil be defeated and may good triumph."