Journey to Easter Journey to CAPO

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2

During this Lenten season, this journey to Easter, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will allow us to grow holier and as Pope Francis @pontifex tweeted, “Lent is a good time for sacrificing. Let us deny ourselves something every day to help others”. So not only is this about us but what we do can also benefit others.

This journey to Easter also allows us to reflect on Jesus’ journey into the desert and to follow him into the desert ourselves. Before Jesus started his ministry he spent time alone in the dry, arid desert. And, throughout his time of ministry he constantly took time to get away by himself to pray and be with the Father. This is how we should take advantage of Lent, by going into the desert, going into our "inner room" and getting away from distractions, things that are hindering our prayer life, hindering our relationship with God, and just generally not allowing us to grow in holiness.

When preparing for a competition focus is so important. One must focus on the task at hand and get rid of all the distractions while soaking up all that can give support to achieving the goal. The training must be precise; the nutrition must be on par, sleep is vital. Abusing alcohol, lack of sleep, poor training ethic, and many other vices can prove detrimental to a prep.

Ash Wednesday is the starting day of our 40 day prep. We mark ourselves reminding us of who we are and where we’re headed, “Remember you are ashes and to ash you shall return”. This opening video sets up the Journey the Animal athletes will take. I hope their journey to CAPO is fruitful for your journey to Easter.

 

Take note of the beastly beard in the opening scene.

The training tools we’ll need for the journey: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving:The questions that makes all the difference this Lent: Why?

Ash Wednesday Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”