Recently we entered into Septuagesima, the time period before Lent begins, when our fasting and our corporal chastisement are done out of devotion, not obligation. That is a spiritual training of the highest order, that we should do any Catholic devotion, not because we are obliged to, but out of love. Septuagesima, these three weeks before Lent, is a time to get our house in order. If you knew that the flood was coming, you would have built an Ark, just as Noah did. These weeks are the time to build the Ark. What are you going to do to prepare yourself for the great and holy season of Lent?
Entering into a season of detachment allows us to free ourselves to conform our lives more fully to His will. In “losing” our life of attachments to things of this world, we gain freedom that allows us to love the Lord with our whole heart and our whole soul. The imbalance of hungering and thirsting and chasing after the world’s pleasures is replaced by a peace that passes all understanding. Rather than an attitude of obligation, we enter into this season with the great hope of growing in love and in virtue as the dross is burned away allowing us to reflect Christ more fully. St. John of the Cross writes, “In order to enjoy everything [that is, to enjoy God, who is everything], do not seek to enjoy anything [do not seek any disordered pleasure]. In order to possess everything, do not desire to possess anything. When you stop at anything, you do not reach the all.”
It is important during Lent that we fast and feast appropriately. I remind you that Sundays do not technically take part in Lent. When you do the counting, the 40 Days of Lent exclude the Sundays of Lent. You may have particular reasons to continue your fasting. Perhaps you are giving up something; perhaps you’re taking on something. That is certainly up to you. But please don’t make Lent stricter than it is.
Let us enter into this season in order to magnify the fruit of His Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Take this period before Lent begins to seek His will for fasting and chastisement, then enter into Lent as a runner training to win the race, knowing that the “training” of this season will transform your life.