Lenting!

Welcome back to Lent! What a great season to draw closer to the Lord.

Let's talk about it.

These forty days are an opportunity to offer ourselves up as we get closer to the Triduum. It's not too late to start with a plan and I want to challenge you to go further this year than you have in the past. We all can, myself included.

Fasting is a great part of Lent and a powerful prayer. In Matthew 17: 16-21 and Mark 9: 14-29, we're told of a story where a father brings a boy to the apostles be healed, but they fail. Jesus intervenes, healing the boy. When the apostles asked why they couldn't do it, He rebukes them and their little faith.

Additionally, Jesus says that "this kind can only come out through prayer and fasting."

There is a whole host of prayers at our disposal as Catholics, with the Mass being the source and summit. But it is easy in our culture to leave fasting on the sidelines or treat it with kid gloves.

There is an intentionality to fasting that says no to something for the sake of something greater. Prayer is intentional and so too when paired with fasting.

Careful not to be gloomy about it either – "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so they may appear to others as fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father will see what is hidden and repay you," (Matt 6: 16-18).

So, my challenge to all of us this Lent is to upgrade our fast this season. Get acquainted with hunger (no, don't starve yourself and if medically impaired, get advice**). Being hungry is uncomfortable, and that is the point, but put on a smile when it's uncomfy and offer it up.

Couple of ideas – try not eating between meals or reset your meal schedule to two small meals and a normal one a day. It doesn't have to be forty days in the desert like Jesus but stretch outside of the comfort zone.

God bless your journey! I've posted the Parish Lenten Schedule below. If you need to talk anything through, doors always open and the coffee is always hot.

--- Adam

Adam Jarosz is the director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry at St. Greg's. He loves raising his family of six in the Sacraments, writing, and playing beach volleyball in the summer!

You can also follow along with Coffee Talk, a great homegrown podcast on YouTube with people you should hear from as examples on how to have faithful conversations. Subscribe and follow along in the talk with a cup of Joe!