BEHOLD I DO SOMETHING A NEW THING (Is. 43:19)

Lent is a time to fast, pray and give alms; this is what many of us hear about the famed season of grace. It only arouses the question, “As Catholics do we only do these things in Lent?” It seems like this is what is behind our Lenten observances. We tell ourselves, “As for this lent …” I have a question in the midst of all these, “After lent what next?”

The roots of the term ‘lent’ itself has in it a very vital lesson; the old English lencten which refers to the springtime. This is the season after winter in the Western world. It is a time of rebirth. It is comparable to the wet season that follows the harmattan in Ghana. It is a time when things that seemed dead awake and begin to bear fruit. Thus lent is a time of rebirth of virtue. Lent is not a season of extraordinary deeds, it is a season to start again the good things (virtues) we left to wither and almost die. After lent there is new energy to walk in holiness.

There is the seeming emphasis on putting in the effort. This is true but caution needs to be sounded; it is the Lord who does these things in us. Jesus teaches that “…apart from me you can do nothing.” cf. Jn.15:5. All the practices that we take up in this period are to help us open ourselves more and more to the effects of the blessings of God on our lives(cf. Eph. 1:3). They begin a journey that is the main characteristic of the Christian life. A journey principally conducted by grace. We must continue that which we start in lent.

God is doing a new thing in this season; a thing that will endure. If we know that God works these works of prayer, fasting, alms-giving and the other works we do, then it must have the mark of endurance (Jn.15:16). This is to say let lent be a season of renewal for you. Re-start the good habits you dropped along the way. Sinful habits and dispositions don’t just vanish, they are displaced. Thus if we are to root out vices and grow in virtue, a good way to go will be to take advantage of the graces of this special season to grow in some virtue and thus displace (root out) some vice.

I would like to propose that your observances be in three areas. Catechetics, prayer and a corporal work of mercy. By catechetics, I mean to teach the faith to someone, by prayer, I mean increase the intensity and duration of the time you intentionally spend with the Lord and by corporal work of mercy, I mean to do something that affects those in need of your love in a concrete way; visit the sick, donate to an orphanage, help a poor lady in your vicinity who struggles to feed her family; something concrete (or any of those acts listed by the church as a corporal work of mercy).

As we embrace these we will come to realise that the Lord is setting before us an open door to deep communion with him in this season of grace.

I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. – Rev. 3:8

This is the new thing the Lord is doing, are you ready to let it happen to you too?

May the Lord grant us to resolve so well to begin again to walk with Jesus, entering through the open the door of Holiness.