– Fr Leonard Dollentas
When we were children, we were told that the Lenten season is the season of giving up something as our share of sacrifice for Jesus who died on the Cross. Oftentimes, we gave up a favorite toy, favorite candy, and a favorite afternoon TV show or a computer game. We were told that it is a sense of a real sacrifice to be able to give up something so Jesus will be pleased that we have offered to him something on Lent. As we grew up, it was often more difficult to decide what special thing to do to make Lent a special season.
We have just entered the season of Lent. It is during this season that we seek God’s grace to put sin out of our lives by uprooting habits and tendencies that are contrary to God’s will. It is a time of conversion, of turning away from sins so we can easily find our way back to God. This season is the perfect opportunity to give up a few of those pesky behaviors that plague our good life.
Let’s start with a dominant one: gossiping. It is a habit that serves almost no purpose, other than to spread information that is often deceitful or uncharitable.
I was told that the gossipers during this period of seclusion due to COVID-19 have gone online. Truly, bad habits cannot be contained even by a powerful virus.
The Lenten season is the time of penance and conversion for us. Instead of using social media for gossip making, we may want to invite others to pray together the way of the Cross or the rosary online, or do some service for the poor once a week during Lent (should the situation come to normal).
In this 40-day journey towards Easter, may we “await the sacred paschal feasts with the joy of minds made pure.” May our Lord bless us all on this journey.
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