As another Lenten season comes to an end, let us reflect upon this time of prayer and penitence and what it means to us, individually.
To some, it may not sound very exciting. The very idea of “giving up” certain things that we most desire, for lent, may have seemed like a cumbersome task. With everyone around, making an effort to keep the Lenten Spirit going, even our liturgies had changed bit. We had put away the ‘Gloria’ and the ‘Alleluia’ until the great celebration of Easter. We even scaled back the music at mass, so that there was a noticeable difference from the rest of the liturgical year.
What is it that we actually achieved by all the deliberate sacrifices that we made? Why is it that once the Lenten period comes to an end, we are overjoyed to greet the Easter season with glee, that normalcy has now been restored?
How many of us actually realize that it is in these symbolic sacrifices that we make in our own little way, during lent, do we partake in the passion of our Lord? For, it is not in the kind of sacrifices we make, or how great or small each of them may be, but it is in our attitude towards it, that we are able to fully understand the true meaning of Easter: Jesus’ supreme sacrifice of life, by his death on the cross. Just as his resurrection gave final proof that he had conquered death, once and for all, similarly, we have to first die to some things that bring us joy.
It is difficult, especially in our extremely busy days, to set aside time for family prayer and to help make Jesus the focus of our family celebration. It certainly takes a bit of dedication and time to make sure that our kids understand that it is Jesus, who is the center of all celebration and that his sacrificial death on the cross is the reason behind this season of Easter, and not just a fancy bunny with a basket, who gives away eggs and goodies.
As we enter into this joyous Easter season, let us contemplate Christ’s humanity, by how he lived his life on earth, his kindness and his tolerance. We must measure our goodness, not by what we deny ourselves or by what we resist. Instead, we should measure ourselves by what values we embrace and what good we create in our lives and in the lives of others.
Happy Easter!
