The Pillars of Lent (the heart of the Liturgy)

1. Fasting
Fasting is given importance because it will be our armor for the temptations and trials that await us as we observe the Lenten Season.

First week of Lent talks about the temptation. Temptations can be overcome if we are faithful with our fasting and if we are disciplined to deprive ourselves.

A good example of this is Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness in Mt. 4:1-11, of which all of Satan’s temptations were met with the same answer, “It is written,” followed by the Scripture.

How can we fast?

Anything given up temporarily in order to focus all our attention on God can be considered as fasting. It can be food, clothing or anything that we consume excessively.
Mt. 6:16-18 declares that, “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

2. Prayer
We pray because God commands us to pray. Prayer is a form of serving God and obeying Him. Prayer should not be seen us a means of getting God to do our will on earth but, rather, as a means of getting God’s will done on earth.

Even Jesus, the son of God, prays. He even teaches us how to pray in Mt. 6:9-13.

3. Alms-giving
“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses himself in the process?”
Jesus taught us to love one another and a better way of showing this is by reaching out to the least of our brothers. We should focus more on the important things and not on acquiring wealth on this earth that we cannot bring in heaven.

The Season of Lent starting on Ash Wednesday reminds us that we all are from ashes and one day we’ll return to ashes whatever our status may be. Make the most of our time while we still have it.