Internet Edition Issue 1
March 2006

Editorial

Viewpoint

A Roman Double for Kimberley Sisters

Compassion in Action - Project Compassion's 2006 theme

From the Office of Justice, Ecology & Peace

KCP Magazine

Lent is a lifetime celebration

If you ask a group of people ‘What is the purpose of life? And What is the best way to live your life?’ you are bound to get a variety of answers. Such answers will be determined by a whole range of factors. One major factor will be an individual’s religious belief and how each person exists in relationship with God. A Christian believer will answer the above questions from the perspective of their Catholic convictions drawn from scripture and tradition. So strong are these faith foundations that they assist us to achieve great things even to the point of being able to bear enormous loss and deprivation. A friend who recently suffered the death of a loved one said to me: “Without faith there is no consolation but with faith there is peace”. It is also vitally important that we use these foundations in faith to live our lives to the full, to celebrate our lifetime with joy and purpose. But how do we achieve these goals? How is our commitment to joy and purpose sustained?

The sixth chapter of the gospel of Matthew records Jesus’ words regarding the essential pillars of discipleship – prayer, fasting and almsgiving. To understand these properly is to appreciate the way to a truly human life lived according to its full potential.

When Jesus speaks about Prayer he is referring to private prayer and communal prayer. A private prayer life is meditative and focuses on Jesus as our way to the Father. Private prayer, like Communal prayer, builds up our faith relationship with God and with each other. So it is that we are called to strive to live a moral life thus bringing our prayers and relationships to perfection in Christ.

Fasting for Jesus is a positive action that immerses us in the deeper more profound issues that are part of human living. Fasting takes us away from selfishness and helps us to concentrate on what is important and essential and just. In a redeemed environment where we live for others, Social Justice is of paramount importance. It is not an optional extra but is at the very heart of Christian living entwined with communal and private prayer.

Almsgiving is the product of charity. Searching to alleviate the burdens of others, being prepared to act out of love, becoming involved even at a personal cost is part of our response to the call of Jesus ‘Come follow me’.

In today’s venal world it is possible to live an unconfronted life, content to stroll along with the mediocre, never attempting to reach for the perfection that fulfils us as human beings. The season of Lent is a special season that affords so many opportunities to reflect on the lifetime of celebration to which we are called. Now is a good time to assess how we are going. Such a reflection may help us to build on the foundations of faith and live life to the full.

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