Today marks the first day of Lent—a time to strengthen your faith and strive to live in a more Christ-like manner. In observance of Ash Wednesday, we’re sharing ten ways you and your family can prepare your homes and hearts for the joyous celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
1. Use Social Media – What better way to reflect on the season than with a group of Christ’s followers? Share prayers from our Lent & Easter prayer pack on Facebook and Twitter and begin a conversation of faith. This is also a great way to explore how different cultures celebrate Lent and how embracing diversity within the Church can bring us closer to each other and to God.
2. Devotions – Lent is a great time to revisit, or explore for the first time, passages in the Bible that demonstrate Jesus’ teachings. Set aside an hour each day, perhaps after family dinner, to interpret the meaning of the passage and how it applies to events in your daily lives. In Matthew 12:39-41, Jesus notes the story of Jonah as a sign of his own destiny. Use this parable to reflect on the issues of sin, obedience and God’s mercy.
3. Charity – One of the most prevalent and consistent of Jesus’ teachings is helping those in need. With your family, select a charity that’s close to your heart. Decorate a box with a slit in the top and display it in a common spot in the house – the kitchen counter, the bathroom, beside the TV, etc. Each day, donate whatever you can, even if it’s only a quarter. At the end of the 40 days, empty the box, count the money together and send a check with your donation.
4. Sacrifice – A common tradition in Christianity is to mimic Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross by giving up something in our own lives. In some churches, they forego flowers, weddings and alleluias during Lent as a symbol of respect for the great nature of Jesus’ sacrifice. In your daily life, challenge yourself to find spiritual value in your own sacrifice—be it sweets, television, or cigarettes—and strive to come out the other side a better person because of it.
5. Good Deeds – Oftentimes, instead of sacrificing something during Lent, Christians will challenge themselves to focus on living more like Christ. Make a commitment to enrich your spirituality—either by attending Mass every morning or setting aside an hour to pray each night—or perform an act of kindness everyday. Money for the homeless, visits to nursing homes or donations to women’s shelters are all ways to give selflessly and unconditionally.
6. Handel’s Messiah – This beautiful classic piece is composed in segments, each a prophesy for Christ’s birth, life, death and finally, his resurrection. The familiar Hallelujah Chorus is a powerful celebration of Easter following the absence of such praises during Lent. Play this music throughout Lent and contemplate how it feels, keeping in mind its divine inspiration.
7. New Life – Easter is a celebration of new life, the resurrection of the Messiah. As Lent begins, plant crocus, daffodil or hyacinth bulbs in a bowl of sand. Leave in a dark closet for two months, keeping soil moist. Then, when shoots appear, let them soak in the sun. As they grow, take note of how environmental conditions affect their quality of life (sunlight, timing, water). Use this as inspiration to reflect on how your own surroundings affect your life—the company you keep; your willpower to resist temptations; your relationships with those around you; God’s presence in your life—and how you can craft a better spiritual environment.
8. Prayer Chain – Cut out 40 strips of purple construction paper. With your children, write a person or group of people to pray for on each strip. Glue the ends of your first strip together to form a circle. Weave your second strip through the circle and glue the ends together. Follow with each strip, forming a chain. Each morning, rip off a strip and focus on that prayer throughout your day. For example, tomorrow’s strip may say “pray for the less fortunate.” Keep that in mind as you move through your daily routine. Then, around the dinner table, discuss with your family what and whom you thought about during your prayers.
9. The Passion of the Christ – This film, though controversial to some, is a powerful representation of Christ’s journey from Palm Sunday to his resurrection. It’s often easier to understand and accept the weight of a situation by seeing and “experiencing” it for yourself. Watch this film and be open to whichever emotions happen to surface, allowing yourself to become absorbed in the story. If you watch this with a group, hold a discussion afterward to process your emotions and how the film helped you better understand Christ’s sacrifice.
10. Cook Together – For many Christians, namely Catholics, it’s tradition to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Plan meatless meals that children can help with—like caprese pizza or veggie tacos. While you cook, talk about the tradition of Lenten sacrifice and prompt your children to talk about Lent and Easter from their perspective.
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