“We are called to grow and change in Lent”

The beginning of Lent marks a sudden change. Yesterday, you may have celebrated with rich foods, donuts, and a drink; today, God invites everyone to repent and fast. Many accepted the invitation—the noon Mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral was well attended—and many went to confession to begin these 40 days the right way.

The Church was decorated in purple, with bare branches and empty jars, reminding the visitors that Lent reminds us of the desert, where Jesus fasted and was tempted by the devil. Fr. James Stembler, the rector of the Cathedral, told the people that these visual changes symbolize that “nothing is static in God’s creation… We are called to grow and change in this season, which is about renewal.”

Jesus Himself reminds us in the Gospel how we should practice fasting, almsgiving, and prayer—not for the sake of being seen by others, but in secret, so we can act with the right intention rather than seek praise (see Matthew 6:1-18).
<>