“Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying… I invite every Christian community to do just this: to offer its members moments set aside to rethink their lifestyles, times to examine their presence in society and the contribution they make to its betterment.”
Source: Holy See Press Office, Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024, 01.02.2024, February 1, 2024
The season of Lent ushers a more profound meaning of sacrifice. Looking on to Easter, the concept of fasting and abstinence today has evolved into many forms, expressing repentance, solidarity with the less fortunate, introspection, and selflessness.
I curiously asked several people, “Did you give up something for Lent?”
Mica, a high school classmate in the US, said, “Ugh, nothing. It slipped my mind.”
Lynda, a former colleague, “self-centeredness…I give more time to my child during this season.”
Wanda, a young friend, “one meal on Fridays…”
Justine, my best friend, “social media and phone usage”
Celia, my Instagram friend, “Meat.”
Jessa, my fellow booklover and writer, “I gave up desserts.”
Andi, my godchild, “I fast during lunch.”
Yani, my singer-friend, “social media and dinner”
Charles, a national comedian, “…sex”
Doris, my high school best friend, “…sex”
Candy, my former employee, “…chocolates.”
Tina, my sister, “Nothing! I’ve been fasting like hell for the past nine months.” (She just gave birth.)
Vannie, my realtor, “Sorry…nothing for the year…I forgot.”
Noelle, my co-member in a chorale, “Hate…though it’s so hard to give it up.”
I have given up chocolates. No hot chocolate in the morning to rouse me up. No chocolate desserts to cleanse the palate. No chocolate cakes for birthdays and Valentine’s Day. It is a big deal for me yet a seemingly trivial interpretation of the whole idea of sacrifice. Yet, I think to deny ourselves in our expressions of sacrifice is a personal matter. When we take that step to make the simplest or grandest sacrifice, we allow ourselves to let go of certain worldly comforts. It is a sense of liberation from pleasures in the journey towards greater self-awareness, alignment with a divine purpose, and caring for the world.
A walk with the puppy, burning sunset and sunlight streaming through the glass doors.
I love reading the stepmom story of Yi Lian-Ng, a full-time stepmother of two in Singapore. I admire that she can just put her name out there and share her narrative. She writes about how she did not aspire to be a stepparent but found herself being one. She recalls how it all started from day one of dating, how naive she was at the beginning, how she questioned complications of the stepfamily dynamics, and how she claims priceless moments of joy that she won’t seem to trade for anything.
“While my step-parenting tasks are not any easier than a biological parent’s, why then, are the expectations on me to refrain from losing my cool higher?” - Yi Lian-Ng Groves
Read about Yi Lian Ng-Groves’ beautiful story via CNA Lifestyle here.