I have been trying to
prepare for the Holy Week starting from Day 1 of the Ash Wednesday by going to
confession and doing what Catholics are obliged to do like fasting, abstinence,
praying the rosary (which I’ve been missing to do for some time already), going
to Holy mass and participating in Holy Week activities.
Let me check my understanding
of fasting and abstinence;
Fasting – means no food at
all but water or juices for hydration.
Abstinence – means no meat
and eating only one full meal a day with no in between snacks.
After attending all the
holidays, birthdays and some special events from the month of December to
March, I get to use to a lot of eating full meals with lots of snacks in
between including mid night snacks. For my alibi, I keep saying to myself that
I need a lot of this energy food for my homeschooling with my eldest son, to
keep up with my very active 22 month old baby and help both of them to stay
healthy too.
I do admit that this is a
tough job for me these days due to my intensifying lower back pains. For after
my first born child, my pains are hindering productive moments with them ( as pains
get even worst after 3 times C-section delivery) and though I love being with
my kids in spite of all the challenges, I can still get to be a grouch with all
these lingering pain. After all, building a relationship with our families is
not an easy task to anyone, it’s a lifetime commitment.
So how can I do my
reflections, contemplation, offerings and quiet moments with God who is giving
me all the strength I need to do my daily life without being interrupted?
“I can do everything
through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I’ve started cutting down
my food intake about a week before hoping that I can do without it during the
days required and sneak out to pray my rosary daily as much as possible when kids are sleeping. Amazingly, I
was able to do with one full meal for days (aiming for fasting now) and my two
boys cooperated during our quiet times with God’s help for we cannot do it if
only with our own will. God even gave me a bonus; I was able to write this
story. I have started a lot of my writings but to no luck in finishing even one
until now.
“The Lord is faithful to
all His promises and loving toward all He has made.” Psalm 145:13
I have learned that Lenten
season is the best time for receiving blessings from God by asking His
forgiveness, by connecting with Him in doing a lot of readings or study about
Him and most of all, building our personal relationship with Him by opening all
our means of communication with Him.
I also learned that fasting
during Holy week is not only self denial from food which is our most basic needs
but also from all our negative emotions and habits that leads us to hurting our
self, hurting each other and mostly hurting God.
Fasting from focusing on
our weakness and problems will lead us to feasting of prayerful time that
strengthens our relationship to God.
Fasting from fears and worrying
will lead us to feasting with the divine will.
Fasting from discontentment
will lead us to feasting with gratefulness.
Fasting from anger will
lead us to feasting with patience.
Fasting from sadness will
lead us feasting with true joy and humor.
Fasting from complaining
will lead us to feasting with appreciation.
Fasting from hostility will
lead us to feasting with non-resistance.
Fasting from forgiveness
will lead us to feasting with forgiveness.
Fasting from sorrow will
lead us to feasting with serenity.
Fasting from hatred will
lead us to feasting with love.
Fasting from harsh
criticism will lead us to feasting with genuine helpfulness.
Fasting from resentment
will lead us to feasting with understanding and letting go.
Fasting from blaming will
lead us to feasting with giving blessings and prayers to others.
Fasting from our own comfort
will lead us to a feasting with service to God by sharing to others.
And I can still go on and
on from all the fasting and feasting that we can do in our personal growth with
all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and giving in to the greater glory of God.
I intend to focus and work
harder on all of these, hopeful that I can do better each day for God deserves
only the best from us.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
