Mass Times and Priest’s Intentions

Mass texts for The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C): Page 810

 

LENT IS IMPORTANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lent begins this coming week. Once again we are challenged to ask ourselves important questions about our priorities as well as being directed towards those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.

 

The three things associated with Lent are, PRAYER, FASTING

and ALMSGIVING.

 

Those who try to live the Christian life without these are only “half-Christian”.

 

Sometimes people are tempted (by guess who!) to “play down” some of the aspects of Lent, so, many people no longer give anything up. It’s important to “go without” something, even if it’s only a small thing. It teaches us not to cling to things and it helps us to be truly free as sons and daughters of God.

 

At the same time people are tempted to just “carry on as normal”. For example, every Friday in the year we are asked to do some penance (this can be substituted with attendance at Mass or some extra prayer, as well as helping someone in need).

Unfortunately, many Catholics just ignore this, and so, when it comes to Lent, they just carry on as normal, even having parties on Fridays or going to the pub. Where’s the Penance in any of that? Lent can be a time for reacquainting ourselves with the

teaching of the Church, which should be seen not as a burden but as a treasure which so few people ever really explore.

 

Lent is not meant to be a time of sadness or a time to be grumpy. Lent should be a joyful time. We are asked to give more time to God and to others—we are asked to face our weaknesses and sins so that we might be more able to deal with them, and as far as sins go, be free of them.

 

Let’s try and make the most of Lent 2010.