3 Things to Make You Closer to God at Lent
According to the website statistics and data.org, Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world. There are over 2.3 billion followers of Christ. While it’s projected to continue to be the major world religion into 2050 (statistics and data.org), it doesn’t mean that we all will be saved.
You must follow God and his rules in order to go to heaven. It isn’t always easy to stay on path; temptation and deceit are always present. God gave us free will, and often we make wrong choices. Our world is filled with constant stimulation; we are removed from things that connect us to one another; to God.
We need to turn back to God and focus on living the love he taught us. We need to stop charging our cell phones and start charging our souls with God’s graces. We need to tune out digital, HD, and Wi-Fi, and tune into the Holy Spirit for connection.
Each year before Easter, Christians are reminded to do this during one of the most sacred religious seasons; Lent. Lent marks the 40 days Jesus went into the Judean desert to fast and pray. He returned to fulfil God’s prophecy, spreading his gospel. What happened in that desert? Why do we honor Lenten rituals by sacrificing, experience discomfort, and even endure pain and anguish…. why?
Jesus went into the desert and permitted himself to endure extreme hardships; neglect of companionship, nourishment, and rest. He wanted his body free from all influences that might make him reliant upon them to exist. Jesus wanted his only dependency on God, his father. The devil tempted Jesus, although he never had a moment of respite, he never succumbs to evil.
Why does Jesus endure all this? He is the son of God. He could make it all be gone with just a passing glint in his eye? Why?… because he knows to fulfil the prophecy he needs be sincere, honest, and obedient to complete his penance. The son of the father knows that in order for natural law to be followed, credibility and consequences must result from its action.
Jesus knew that through all the hardships he endured, he was ready to fulfil his father’s prophecy. With full knowledge he would be mocked, scourged and crucified.
What is Penance?
Penance is how you validate and celebrate this sacred holiday. It marks Jesus’s sacrifice and anguish he willingly endured to save mankind. Devoted Roman Catholics must follow canonical laws set forth from the Vatican, and encouraged to make a separate penance unique to themselves. A few church laws are to attend Mass on high holy days as well as Sundays and weekdays (if possible). Give alms to the church is another” top 10” example used by Rome.
Continue to read further as I’ll explain types of Lenten penance a devoted Christian should follow to be closer to our Lord.
What penance Isn’t?
When you were younger you were told to give up sweets, soda, dessert during meals, watching your favorite cartoon or TV show. These things meant a great deal more to you probably than it did to an adult. As you grew into adulthood your understanding of Lent and its meaning didn’t. The Vatican slowly misled you down a path that it doesn’t matter what you “give up” at Lent, but that you do it.
Prohibiting soda, beer, or liquor isn’t penance. Nor is giving up sweets, eating your favorite food, or watching your favorite tv programs, etc. Thinking by omitting snacks or meals during the day, you’ll fulfil your Lent requirement and lose that stubborn weight you’ve been trying to isn’t penance either. These are resolutions for January 1st, not ways to bring you closer to God.
The Vatican makes amendments to the Canon Laws of the Catholic Church. Rules over thousands of years old are rewrote to a vague outline for diocese parishes to interpret. No religious holiday has been examined, dissected, and interpreted more than Lent.
As Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, you are aware of Jesus’s tribulations in the desert. He endured far more than any person could and yet, he was obedient to the father. God knows you can’t repay the devoted selfless act of giving one’s life so others could live.
But we must honor the Holy Father by recognizing these spiritual acts of sacrifice and offering. We must live with love, compassion, and devotion in our hearts. We must pray the way Jesus taught the disciples on the Mount of Olives. We do this in memory of him; keeping us steadfast on the path to his kingdom in heaven.
“How do you do this”, you ask? Keep reading to discover the 3 things you need to be closer to God during Lent and on the path to heaven.
The 3 Pillars of Lent
I am going to tell you what I feel the 3 critical things you must do to make offerings to God during the season of Lent. First, you must perform penance. Penance is an act of hardship you perform to acknowledge your sins and offenses to our Lord God. The keyword here is hardship. The act should be that causes you discomfort, humility, or remorse. The second pillar is sincerity; do it with true loving intentions. It should be done out of love not because you feel forced by others. Lastly, the final pillar is humility.
Sacrificing is what’s needed to have penance. Penance is what’s needed to be closer to God and live as Jesus showed us. Your penance should make you filter out distractions so that you focus on the pain and anguish Jesus went through for us.
When you feel discomfort or pain, it should trigger you to reflect on the pain and discomfort Jesus endured. This develops sympathy and can help you understand the love God truly has for you. I’m not saying that you need to endure the unbelievable anguish being scourged and nailed to a cross. Thankfully, by God’s graces and love, he isn’t either
Remarkably, you not only develop sympathy but you develop humility. You are humbled at the almighty powerful, yet loving caring God. Jesus endured the mocking, ridicule, and judgement of others. Jesus was beaten so badly he could barely walk let alone stand upright. He was made to carry a cross, the instrument that would cause his death, to a public forum for all to see. Finally, he was nailed to the cross. With nothing to support his weight except the spikes driven into his wrists and ankles, Jesus endured unbelievable anguish. He succumbs to suffocation and death took his flesh and body.
Surely any pain, hardship, or difficulty can be endured in honor of what Jesus experienced to give us eternal life in the after world. Your goal is to learn what love is, and then teach others. We can never achieve “heaven on earth”, God isn’t asking that of us. He is asking you to be a living example of his love.
The power of penance can help you define and understand the magisterium of God’s divine love. It will bring you closer to God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit. You will not just act out God’s abundance of blessings but you will live it each and every day. Though you may encounter obstacles on your path to God’s kingdom, you will pass by them effortlessly with his love and grace.
I encourage you to make a sincere loving offering this Lenten season. Also, just because Lent ends on the Thursday before Good Friday I ask you to consider making penance a part of your daily routine. Take 1 or 2 days out of the week and offer true penance to God, he will shine upon you his loving graces.
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Until next time; May you know of God’s Love and Blessings.
Written by Carl Francis Miller, copywriter/content creator.
*Founder of The God Path website
* Path to Solemnity (blog with new published articles every 11 days).
References Cited
Statistics and data.org
https://statisticsanddata.org/data/most-popular-religions-in-the-world/#google_vignette