Preparation for Lent
Let’s not underestimate this year’s Lent time.

It is far from Lent. How about starting to prepare for Lent today? Let’s ask ourselves, as part of this preparation, have we understood the true meaning of fasting? But how can giving up food become an expression of Christian love? Jesus explains the answer to this question and others, how to understand the meaning of fasting, the fasting practice, and the fasting period, by asking: “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them” (Mk 2:19)?

We read how Jesus healed the sick, strengthened the weak, and comforted the suffering. But how did it all begin? In many cases, these people sought Jesus, or someone sought him on behalf of a sick or suffering person. The words about Jesus’ power and miracles were enough for them to follow him. Jesus talks about filling old vessels with new wine. The new wine is the Holy Spirit, which he wants to pour out on us out of love to heal, strengthen and renew us. However, Jesus will not impose himself on us. He wants us to turn to him and invite him to us. And that means being a new vessel. He is waiting for us to put aside everything “old” that separates us from him so that we can accept the “new”.

However, there is one catch. If we want to experience the presence of Jesus, we must change. We need to set aside some time for him. We must give up bad habits that distance us from him. Even so, we are never sure whether we can make the necessary change on our own. However, the good news, the gospel says that Jesus will not only help us on this journey but will accept our small efforts and bless them a hundredfold. Sometimes it changes us without realizing it; it will carve out our personality the way a grinder grinds a diamond to make it shine and become a real gem. Jesus wants to help us, but he is waiting for the moment when we turn to him. He expects at least a little effort on our part so that the old vessels are not broken by receiving the new wine. Our decision to devote at least fifteen minutes a day to prayer can be an excellent start.

Let’s give God a little time, and he will bless us, heal us and lift us because we have given something up. Let’s ask Jesus to show us what we can do to draw closer to him. And then let’s take that small step and ask him to act. Religious people often have difficulty accepting differences in other people’s lifestyles, especially in religious matters. We can find something similar in the rebuke of the Pharisees, which they addressed to Jesus Christ: “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, and your disciples do not fast” (Mk 2:18)? But this rebuke was not justified.