The three pillars of Lent – Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving – are meant to open our hearts and direct our focus and attention to God and others. Each of these is a way of transcending the vice of self-centredness and showing love to God and our fellow human beings. We cannot carry out any of these pillars of Lent without having the love of God in our hearts. No one can pray or deepen his life of prayer without loving God first. Having a culture of prayer issues from our love for the one we are praying to. When the disciples of Jesus grew in their love of God, having watched Jesus for sometime on how He prayed regularly to his Father out of love for Him, they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Lk. 11:1, Matt. 6:9). Fasting is done for different reasons.
Some people fast as a sign of remorse for their sins, others fast to seek the face of God for particular issues and to mortify their flesh. The list goes on and on. But these reasons do not give full flavour to our fasting if they are not carried out with the love of God in our hearts. Almsgiving – sharing what we have with the needy – is not done without one having the love of God. The only reason why giving (that is sharing what one has) may be difficult is when there is no love for others that flows from a sincere love of God. Then giving can either be impossible or carried out grudgingly. Lent is an opportunity for us to deepen our love of God and neighbour. During this period, by observing the three pillars of Lent, we express this love faithfully. This is the only way we can make the most of this season and gain the full blessings of our Lenten observances.
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
