Naming the Days of Lent
Recently my family and I were wondering why only certain days of Lent have names such as Ash Wednesday or Holy Thursday. We had heard that in the Eastern Churches, Lent begins with a day called Clean Monday. That made us decide to come up with names for every day of Lent (usually based on the Gospel for the day). Having a name for each day gives it a special focus.
Perfect Saturday
How is God perfect? He is perfect in love. He is perfect love. In order to be perfect as he is perfect, we have to love to the greatest extent that we can. We can’t just love those who love us and are good to us. We must love and desire the salvation of everyone, even those who wish us harm.
Altar Friday
When we come before God and bring our gifts to the altar, we have to alter our behavior toward our neighbors. Jesus does not want us to come to the altar alone, separated from the others whom he also loves. He wants us to bring ourselves and, through us, the whole world.
Ask Thursday
If you knew someone with incredible wealth and this rich person told you to ask for whatever you needed what would you do? Today Jesus tells us to ask, to ask insistently and persistently for what we need. “Give me a clean heart.” “Help me to love.” “Stay with me.” “Increase my faith.”
Sign Wednesday
Why do we need signs? In our everyday life, signs assure us that we are going the right way. They tell us what to do or not to do. But once you have a perfectly good sign, why would you want another one? If you asked for another one, you would be saying, “This sign isn’t good enough or trustworthy.” Jesus has given us one sign that points us to Heaven: his sacrificial love on the Cross.
Our Father Tuesday
We pray the Our Father often but do we think about its purpose? Why did Jesus give us this prayer? So that we could use it to babble as the pagans do? The Our Father is a key to open our Father’s heart and to reveal our hearts. https://5sparrows.com/our-father-pattern-of-prayer/
Sheep Monday
Why do the sheep enter Eternal Life? They share the same vision with Jesus. When they see something broken, someone hurting, they want to restore, renew, and bring healing. And because Jesus came to live our sorrows with us, when they touch the sorrowing, they touch Jesus.
Angel Sunday
“The angels ministered to him.” Just as Jesus had angels to serve him during his earthly life so do we. Whenever you are tempted to give up, remember the angels urging you to listen to the words of Jesus, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” In other words, turn towards Jesus and live as he did.
Banquet Saturday
This seems like the perfect day to have after Fast Friday. Today Matthew is converted and he and all his friends celebrate by having a banquet with Jesus. When a banquet is mentioned in the Gospels, it is a symbol of Heaven. Even though our goal of Easter might seem far away on this first Saturday of Lent, this Gospel helps us to set our minds on the goal of conversion which is Eternal Life.
Fast Friday
Fast Friday isn’t fast as in quick. In fact, it is actually a long day or anyway a day of longing. When we fast, we realize that we don’t have something that we need for our life. Physically speaking what we don’t have is food. But this physical longing represents a spiritual hunger since we are waiting liturgically for the coming of Easter and ultimately for the final coming of Jesus. Then we will never be separated from him and all our longings will be satisfied.
Profit Thursday
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
St. Louis de Monfort said that if you think of your life as if it were a business, you would want to make a profit on everything you do. This way you can increase the life of God in your soul and increase the amount of goodness in the world by even the smallest good deed or prayer. We can’t save our lives but instead, we should spend our lives for Jesus and he will be our reward forever and ever.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is an easy one because it already has a name. Why do we start our Lenten journey with ashes? The ashes are the remains of something that was once living, the Palms of Palm Sunday. So they represent our fragile humanity and also the deadness of souls given over to sin.
But they are not only a reminder of death and sin. Our Savior does not want us to fall into gloom and depression. The “dead” ashes are made into the Sign of the Cross which is the sign of love and victory. Jesus can bring all things to life.