“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. ”Matthew
26:41
We read in the book of Jonah that The Lord decided to destroy the great city Nineveh and sent Jonah to prophecy this to the people of Nineveh. The Ninevit
es believed God so they declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
My dear friends, Lent is a season that reminds us to repent, to get our priorities straight, and clean our hearts through sacrament, fasting, reading of the word of God accompanied by prayer. In this season of lent, we are also reminded by God himself to return to Him. Prophet Joel tells us “Now, therefore says the Lord,” Turn to Me with all your heart with fasting, with weeping and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful…”Joel 2:15. We need to constantly turn our heart and mind to God through prayer and repentance inorder to improve the quality of our life, Let us, however remember that the Lenten season provides us a special grace.
During this Lenten season many of us fast; but what kind of fasting is that? Spiritual fasting is not just about giving up food or other items just for these days; it is about fasting and praying and feeding the spirit through our obedience to God. These days are days of transformation, a time of realizing the sacrifice of Jesus, a time to repent ourselves and a time to renew our relationship with god. Therefore he says, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:14-16 "When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. "Matthew 6:17,18
Today ask “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10” and he will help you to overcome evil and fulfill your vows during this period. He will surely transform your life and will make you a blessing for others. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2