Sara and Charlie’s Lent Adventure with Nana and Papa

Sara and Charlie were spending a long weekend with Nana and Papa while Mom and Dad took a trip for Dad’s work. This was normal, and the children looked forward to spending fun times with their grandparents, playing board games, going to movies, and maybe visiting the Ice Cream Palace for a sundae or two.

Lent was March 5, a Wednesday this year, meaning the Ice Cream Palace visits would quickly end on Tuesday. Sara was a very mature and wise 13-year-old, and Charlie was just a normal, healthy 8-year-old boy whose interests were baseball and video games.

Papa was reading the news on his tablet when Sara came in and sat across from him. Papa looked up, saying, “What up, Princess?”

“I’m not sure I understand that whole Lent thing. I can tell you I’m giving up Fig Newtons for Lent, but you and I both know that I don’t like Fig Newtons, so what is the purpose? And why would I give up something that has nothing to do with Jesus' pain and suffering on the cross? Shouldn’t it be enough that we feel bad that Jesus had to suffer so much before he died?”

“Now, that is several good questions, Princess!” Papa closed his tablet and took off his glasses. He looked at his granddaughter and asked, “Do you want a long or short response?”

Sara smiled, saying, “You will give a short answer that you know will drive me crazy because it is not a complete answer, so let’s just jump into the deep end of the pool, shall we?”

“Well then,” Papa exhaled, “let's swim.” Sara groaned.

Papa went on, “The Church gives us three topics to ponder during Lent. Each has a purpose, such as helping us to feel more comfortable with our relationship with God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.”

“What happened to the Holy Spirit during Lent?” 

“Well, Sara, what came first, God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?”

“Oh, I guess God The Father, Jesus the Son, then the Holy Spirit?”

“A good, reasonable answer, but wrong. The Holy Spirit is mentioned all through the Old Testament. Even King David begged God to remove the Holy Spirit from him. Then, remember when Jesus was in the Desert, the Holy Spirit cared for Him after his 40 Days. And Jesus told His followers that the Holy Spirit would come over them. Sara, the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus together. The Trilogy is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

“There are three practices the church asked us to accept during Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer should be your conversation with Jesus. We all need to spend more time talking to Our Lord daily. So, Lent is the perfect time to promise Jesus that you will come to Him in prayer every day. This should be more than an Our Father. Jesus knows what is happening in your life and your mind. So, discuss this with Jesus. Ask him questions that will help you understand what is unclear to you. He will answer or provide Fr. Tom the message, who will give you the answer in his homily.”

“WAIT, how did Fr. Tom know what I was thinking? He won’t say, ‘And Sara was wondering why a certain boy keeps bugging her’ in Mass, would he? I would die of embarrassment!!”

Laughing, Papa tried to control the excited 13-year-old by saying, “No, Father won’t mention you by name, but maybe if you listen, he will give you the answers you are looking for by telling his stories during his homily.”

“So, if Jesus knows what is on my mind, why must I tell Him in prayer?”

“Ahhh, a question that many should be asking! Because as you say the prayer in words in your mind, you are forming a clearer picture of what you want answers to. Putting words to a thought helps with clarity. Then you have a better chance of getting some direction from Jesus or the Holy Spirit on how you should think about that boy who is……”

“No boy is bothering me, so let us just leave that one in the swamp where all boys belong, in the mud. So, I am still attending school during Lent and can’t go to church; how long should I pray?”

“Can you give Jesus 10 to 15 minutes at night before bed? Use this time to talk about your day, what bothered you, what made you laugh, what gave you happiness, and what made you mad. If you can find 30 minutes to talk to your friend after school, you should have the same conversation with Jesus!”

“Well, some of that talk with Angela is sort of girl talk; I’m not sure Jesus would like it.”

Papa responded, “Then you should not be saying it. If it hurts another person, that is a sin. If it is not true, that is a sin. If it makes fun of someone, that is also a sin. You must remember that God loves you and your friends all the same. If you think God should love you more, you need to talk with Fr. Tom in the Confessional. You are the same Child of God to God as that bully in 9th grade.”

After a pause, Papa continued, “So, prayer is just telling Jesus what is on your mind, and hopefully, it includes a healthy dose of Thank You for the health, happiness good fortune you have, with my Mom and Dad, Papa and Nana, and Charlie.”

 “Papa, what if I’m just uncomfortable talking to Jesus.”

“Sara, Jesus knows everything you are thinking and even what you will think tomorrow. Give Him a chance to help you and get comfortable with what He knows. This is a lot like your mom knowing that you need to talk to her about girl stuff before you know you need to talk to her about girl stuff. Jesus knows you better than your mom, so don’t you think it is ok to talk to him?”

“Well, that is something to ponder, Papa! But what if I’m just not ready to talk to anyone about it because I don’t know how to put words to it?”

“Wow, Sara, you are smarter than the average kid! Then you can always say a whole Rosary for that day. And remember to have an Intercessory Prayer before each Decade, where you can pray for someone in need, someone who is not as well off as you and needs some help, someone who is sick, or someone who is a bully like the one we know.”

“Pray for the bully?”

“Oh yes, praying for those who need prayers, like those who are mean, the ones who like to pick on others, or the ones who just make your life miserable can help you, and help them at the same time….by praying for them, you are laying down your feelings about their bad habits, and in doing so, you get special favors from God called Graces, and they allow you to forgive that person.”

Sara was ready to change the subject and asked, “What about this Fasting thing? What if I'm not ready to give up my smartphone? I need it for homework assignments and ….”

Papa looked out the window to the snow falling and replied, “True fasting is about giving up a food you like, not a food you don’t like, such as broccoli. You know, on Fridays during Lent, we give up all meat and try to eat one less meal that day. Giving up your favorite food for Lent is a good way for you to remember that Jesus went 40 days without food. BUT Sara, remember that you don’t have to fast on Sunday’s during Lent. Sunday is a day to worship, allowing us to celebrate with our favorite foods. But, recall that fasting is a form of discipline. We put aside something we love like cookies to practice putting aside sin or any distraction that keeps us away from God.”

“That sounds easy, but I believe it is hard to do for over a month!” Sara was looking concerned.

“Look, Princess, you are not going to Hell if you take a cookie for lunch on Tuesday during school. You just commit yourself to trying harder next time. God and Jesus understand the hunger a 13-year-old has for cookies!”

“The last one is Almsgiving. We pray for this in the first three beads of the Rosary: Faith, Hope, and Charity. So, for you my dear, sharing your lunch with someone who forgot theirs at school would be an act of charity. Almsgiving can also be giving time to help Charlie with his math homework and do it with love and kindness. While you are very good at math, Charlie is very good at hitting baseballs, a skill you don’t have.

God gave each of us “gifts” that make us special, and He wants us to use these gifts to help others. Helping Charlie also makes Mom and Dad happy as they see you two getting along.

Almsgiving is what happens when your dad gives you or Charlie the envelope at Mass to put into the basket; he is sharing his wealth with others, and the church is helping with food or clothing.”

Sara bowed her head and said, “Is that all?”

Papa took her hand and kissed it, “Yes, that is just about all that Lent is.”

Sara wanted to know, “What about the Easter candy?”

“That is our celebration tradition to reward children who came through the 40 days of Lent with the intent to pay attention to Jesus and not the Easter Bunny!”

This Lent, plan to put Jesus ahead of the Easter bunny.

Gather your family for a half hour of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by:

1.     Saying a decade of the Holy Rosary

2.     Praying for each other and family

3.     Read Matthew, Chapter 26—the Passion. Take the time to explain it to your young children so they can experience the true meaning of Easter.

4.     Have each person make a plan to give up a favorite food.

5.     Discuss what you can do for a family member, a neighbor in need or the poor.

Remember, the Men of the Sacred Hearts pray for you and your intentions each Friday. Please remember to pray for us, and our mission is to keep bringing ideas to help you and your family journey with Jesus through life.