I'm in the midst of my finals and wrote this in less than 30 mins without much research at all. Fastest written article ever! So hope you'll enjoy it...
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and it marks the beginning of the forty day period of prayer and fasting or abstinence but ironically there are more attractive things that awaken curiosity in the minds of people.
It's quite funny cause they don't even bother to look at the ashes on one another's heads to see the significance of it but just ask that one question to each other: What is it that you are giving up this year?!
The season of Lent is one of the most solemn observances part of the Christian liturgical calendar which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter.
But sadly in recent times, the whole "traditional" purpose of the season of preparing one's soul through penance and prayer has been lost. The fact that Christ died and suffered on the cross for all our sins is completely forgotten. Not even for a minute do we stop to think that this is the least we could do for him in return.
It is supposed to be a time of complete absorption in God and repentance but not sure about how many people do feel the same.
If you look up on the internet, there are sites which have polls and they also have step by step procedures on how to start deciding what you would like to give up. There are also magazines that have prizes to win if you predict correctly the one thing most people are going to give up this year.
Don't you think this is all just pure madness???
What happened to the fact of pondering over all the wrong we have done throughout the year and the thought of trying to become better individuals?
It seems more like another trend to me which is catching up pretty fast especially with the youth. And instead of trying to act like good practising Christians, we end up being even worse sinners.
The whole process of deciding what we want to give up requires hours and hours of head scratching just to make sure it is the "right" one.
There is absolutely no kind of humility or a strong sense of meaning left to it. The fact of doing things to win over Christ's love is definitely changing over time.
Kids give up candies and chocolates. Adults give up drinking and smoking. And now with the emergence of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc
The list just goes on and on..
But what do we actually mean when we supposedly "sacrifice" something? Do we feel that pinch? That's only left for each one of us to answer.
If you go through people's "To do lists" , you'll just find yourself rolling on the floor with laughter.
Although the fact of little innocent children taking to this is a very sweet act indeed cause you know that they may not make any sense out of it but they do take it seriously at heart.
But what is highly disturbing is when people do it just because everyone else are. It is surprising to find the number of Non-Catholics who participate in the season of Lent too and some doing it as part of their family traditions. It just doesn't seem to come from within anymore.
The phenomenon of "giving up" is said to help us in the journey of strengthening our faith and being better human beings. We should avoid the things that detract us from faith and increase the things that supplement it.
Sometimes it is sad to see that people don't even have the will power to continue with their sacrifices. They give up half-way.
There are a lot of people on the other hand who believe that they do not need to sacrifice their "certain favourite things" to get closer to God.
But whatever it may be. Whether you decide to give things up or not.
It is the season of finding the right path leading towards a closer relationship with God.
So this Lent, we must keep in mind that it's not about the question of what you are giving up, but what is the best you can be to others around you.
No comments:
Post a Comment