By Erin O’Leary
Lent gets its name from a word meaning “springtime,” the time of year when the hours of daylight are lengthening and the sun is bringing back its warmth and light.
The Lenten season, indeed all of springtime, is a time of hope: We deepen our relationship with Christ through our Lenten disciplines and look to His Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection to overcome the darkness that can cause us to struggle and despair.
Some days we may not feel the love of God that is always present, but we can rely on hope to move us forward in faith. Exercise hope this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and find renewal for the coming Easter season.
• Pray with hope. Prayer shows our reliance on and confidence in God. Along with praying traditional Catholic prayers, it is helpful to pray with God’s Word. Try these passages:
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 15:13)
“Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.” (Heb 10:23)
Recite the Act of Hope, and consider God’s mercy: “O my God, relying on your infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.”
• Fast with hope. During Lent, Catholics are called to days of fasting from food and abstinence from meat as we refocus our discipleship. The goal of fasting is to improve our relationship with Christ as we experience sacrifice in honor of his sacrifice for us. Fasting can help us feel connected with Christ and solidarity with the poor. Many Catholics also traditionally “give up” something for Lent. Here are some ideas:
Refrain from negative or hopeless comments; try saying things only in positive ways. Avoid watching television or movies with negative messages or dialogue. Give away items that are burdening you with clutter; find new homes for them with a charity donation. Trade the time you usually spend on screens or sports viewing to take walks with family or friends. Skip buying desserts or treats and use the money you save to purchase flowers for someone who needs a day-brightener.
As you fast, consider Pope Francis’ April 2017 TED Talk in which he addressed misconceptions around hope. “Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naive and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing,” he said. “Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, [that] does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow. … And it can do so much, because a tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness.”
• Give alms with hope. “It is in giving that we receive,” according to the Prayer of Saint Francis. Almsgiving can seem the easiest of Lenten disciplines.
This Lent, consider volunteering time at your parish during one of their Lenten activities, or help clean or decorate the church in preparation for Holy Week. Write cards to family and friends expressing ways they help you feel more hopeful and thanking them for their support. At Mass, introduce yourself to one new person each week or by sitting with new people during the liturgy. Actively watch for someone each day who needs an extra helping hand.
Keep a Lenten hope list. Write down names of those you encounter who need an extra dose of love and support. Pray for them and check in with them to show your care.
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