FOUR Wheels of a Lenten Carriage

We are on a grand pilgrimage to the Promised Land and very soon we will be on the doorsteps of yet another Great lent. The Great Lent is one of the main keys to the Kingdom Of God. Lent, in our faith describes the complete dedication of our body, soul & mind. Fasting is for the body, repentance and confession for the mind and all the three including prayers are for the soul. The lent is often compared to a weapon utilized to fight with Satan and his evil forces. Our Lents were originally with fasting and still it is supposed to be so. Lenten days are not just as the days on which we would abstain from certain food items, like the meat, fish, milk and the milk products.

Lent is derived from the Latin 40 and is specific to the 40 days fast preceding the Holy Week. *Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, (‘Fortieth’)* is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels, before beginning his public ministry. As such it cannot be used for other days of fasting. Therefore, we use “fast” to denote all others, such as the Apostles’ Fast, the Fast of the Assumption, the Nativity Fast or any other fasting one may observe on an individual basis ~ HG Yuhanon Mar Demetrios. Lent comes from the Middle English word lente, meaning “springtime,” which is itself descended from the Old English lencten. So, to add the only springtime lent is Great Lent

Lent is supposed to be a four wheel carriage, meant to take us to heaven or the heavenly experience. Fasting is the first wheel of the Lent carriage. Why are we to fast during the Lents? In heaven there is no significance for the worldly needs like food, rest, sleep etc. In the Lenten prayers we say “one who fasts really is in heaven”. That is why we are asked to fast during the Lenten season. In the Lenten prayer we read again “one who is fasting, be careful in handling the Lent, which transforms everything as great. Our lent enable us to please our God and to attain redemption for all our sins. Our physical bodies as well as the minds would be purified through our Lent”. “The wings of the Lent, which would lift up the earthly humans to the divine highest, are so speedy. One who would observe the Lent without cheating would be mixed up with the angelic flock and they would enjoy the pleasures of the paradise”

The second wheel of the Lent carriage is the Prayer. Prayer has got the same and equivalent position of Oxygen in our daily life. Prayer is very essential for our spiritual existence and growth. By the Grace of God, we have plenty of prayers for each time. (Yaamam) The Lent prayer advises us “Lazy man! Rise up and work hard. Don’t be lazy during the fight. Earn the eternal life while being active and energetic.” Please don’t forget that we could be energetic and active only through the prayer. Pray as much as one could. In the place of work, one could have the prayer of the heart – the so called Jesus prayer: Lord have mercy upon me: Kurie-laison.

The third wheel of the Lent carriage is the Repentance. Lenten prayer reminds us “the people of Nineveh fasted for 40 days and they were saved. They could stop the wrath of God through their repentance and uncountable tears. Lord God reconciled with them and has answered their prayers”.  “Repentance is the freedom from selfishness,” says the Eastern Church Fathers. So let us get rid of all selfish thoughts, desires, words and deeds. We will have to control our tongue always and especially when we are observing the Lent. “One who would observe the lent wisely freeing himself/herself from all sorts of evils is blessed. He/she shall always be a temple of God, serving God in secret and in public.” We must create a mind to confess, “Lord I have sinned against you and heaven, please forgive us”. Lent is a time of seeking forgiveness. Infact the lent starts with Shub’khono service. The seeking of forgiveness is needed-not only with whom; we have sinned, but also with anyone, whom we feel that we have caused a pain in their hearts, knowingly or unknowingly. While confessing, repenting and seeking forgiveness, we too should prepare ourselves to forgive others and then only, the real reconciliation happens. In that way, let us get rid of all the ill-feelings from our mind and purify it, so that the heavenly peace can enter our hearts and stimulate us, to lead a true Christian life. Grease your Lent Carriage with forgiveness and reconciliation.

The fourth wheel of the Lent carriage is the Alms giving. “One who observes the lent with purity and at the same time, share his / her own bread to the needy and deserving is blessed. The lent without the bread and water is considered as a simple fasting. If there are alms giving in the lent, it is great in the presence of God. If the one who is fasting do donate what he has to the needy and poor, God will accept his lent and he will receive very big reward from God. When you give something let it be from your love to your fellowmen. Get rid of the evil deeds and do good to others. This will be lent to please God” The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning men from sin and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the desire to do God’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come first of all in their hearts.” Let the observation of the Lent; in the way it should be, enable us to please God and to gain abundant blessings in return.