The Beginning

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, a beginning of penitence, a symbolic fresh start to sort our spirituality into a more Christ-like image. Many will seek to "party" on Mardi Gras, trying to have a last go at those things they think they will give up during Lent. Plain Catholics propose a different attitude: let us "take on and leave behind" rather than "temporarily give up".

Let us take on a more kind approach in our speech towards others and leave behind sarcasm.

Let us show concern and interest for others and leave behind gossip and tabloid-like conversations.

Let us pray for our pastors and church leadership and leave behind the constant criticism and "Sunday morning quarterbacking"- for when it comes to changing hearts, prayer and sacrifice is far more powerful than criticism.

Lent is a grand time to start work on the "new self, created in God's Way" and the Scriptures and Catechism give us the knowledge and tools to do so.

Ephesians 4 reminds us:

17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; 18 darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, 19 they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.

20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus,
22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

That's me away then.