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The idea of Lent as a time of disciplined giving-up is well entrenched in the Catholic psyche. That’s not just older people but many young Catholics are enthusiastic about Lenten disciplines, even to the unhealthy extreme of choosing a tough Lent with the mistaken motivation that this will please God.
It’s helpful for we who are actively seeking greater maturity of Christian faith to go deeper, perhaps re-tuning mind and heart to consider how we might best hear and recognise Jesus present and active in our lives.
Pope Leo’s message for Lent has helped me to re-tune and broaden my own appreciation of Lent as he calls us to reconsider the purpose of fasting and abstinence.
He begins his brief reflection:
“I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbour.”
On fasting he suggests:
“Fasting teaches us to govern our desire by purifying, freeing, and expanding it, in order to direct our desire toward God and good deeds…If we do so, we will let words of hatred give way to words of hope and peace.
And that’s the same broad understanding of Lenten fasting and abstinence that we hear in today’s extra-short (just two verses) gospel passage:
“John’s disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
And the same message is clear in today’s Old Testament reading:
Upcoming Cafe Gatherings:
Send a name, date, place and time and I’ll share your invitation. Just initiate a gathering, send me the info, and turn up to meet with anyone else who wants to take an hour to chat about their experience of God.
Wednesday 25 February 2026 10.00am
Stumble Inn, 200 Mangorei Road, Merrilands, New Plymouth
Joan
Wednesday 25 February 2026 10:30am
Zenders Cafe and Venue 44 Hopkins Rd Newstead, Hamilton
Christina
Thursday 5 March 2026 10.30am
The Cafe at Harrison’s Pekapeka Rd Waikanae
Catherine
Spot on, Amen
Three Days into Lent and I have failed Pope Leo’s Lenten abstinence more than once. Makes me realize how often I feed negativity of others rather than building up. Makes you think. I hope I get better at it