Repent and Ask Forgiveness to the Lord for He is Our Savior

Repent and Ask Forgiveness to the Lord for He is Our Savior 

For many people, lent is associated with certain kinds of sacrifice: giving up something one enjoys for the season, abstaining from meat on Fridays, and fasting on prescribed dates. These forms of self-denial have served the faithful Christian well over the centuries as a set of practices that help to take us out of our daily routines and ordinary life to renew ourselves in living the Gospel. Christians are encouraged to recall the sacraments of baptism and penance in preparation for Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. The practice of marking the forehead with ashes in the shape of a cross reminds us of our mortality and marks the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The marking is a reminder that we are powerless in the face of death and must rely on Jesus Christ to redeem us.

The COVID-19 pandemic has noticeably changed our practices during the Lenten Season. When there was no pandemic yet, most of us Catholics visited nine churches on Holy Thursday, praying and hoping that our prayers would be granted. On Good Friday, the Vigan Cathedral was crowded because many had attended mass and went to listen to the Seven Last Words from the Cross. Later, in the afternoon, there was a procession of saints, and many people usually joined while holding a lighted candle. Unfortunately, when COVID-19 attacked globally, the Inter-Agency Task Force had set health protocols to contain the spread of the virus. Lockdowns, social distancing, and the wearing of face masks and face shields were implemented. Schools and churches were closed. Lent has been challenging. We can’t go to church to attend mass and to have at least a dose of serenity. Instead, we listen to mass and the Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross over the radio and television. However, despite the struggles and difficulties brought about by the restrictions due to the pandemic, our faith in God has never changed. Actually, it became stronger because we never ceased to pray and ask God to heal the world and protect us from COVID-19. We faced life's uncertainties, but we remain hopeful that it will all be over soon. During Lent, we practice fasting and abstinence. We don’t eat all kinds of meat on Fridays. There are some who really don’t eat anything for a certain period of time. We are willing to sacrifice and respect the Lenten season. We don’t work on Good Friday. We repent for the mistakes we’ve made and sincerely ask forgiveness from the Lord. We pray and hope that we can survive and overcome this pandemic. We believe that our situation will eventually improve and that everything will return to normal. We have faith that God will heal, protect, and bless us. Only he can save us from the uncertainties we have faced because of this global pandemic.

            Anyway, after all the challenges and crises we’ve experienced during the pandemic, our situation is improving. COVID-19 cases are decreasing. However, we should not let down our guard and continue to protect our health and that of other people. We pray and do good things. Let’s renew ourselves spiritually during this Lenten season. Let’s strengthen our faith and hope for the better.

 Reference/s:

The Catholic Spirit. "Lenten regulations for fasting and abstinence." retrieved from: https://thecatholicspirit.com/holy-days/lent/lenten-regulations-for-fasting-and-abstinence/