Lent 2026
As a child, I remember thinking about what I was going to “give up’ for Lent. With five brother and sisters we often would give up the same things…candy, snacks, soda, TV (argh!), and with many siblings we were all keen on correcting any possible Lenten infractions…
As we grew, we would come up with different things to cut out of our lives for Lent…or sometimes, faithful practices we would “take up” for Lent. As a young man, there were times I would challenge myself in Lent, mostly out of pride and to see if “I could complete my penance…”
All these memories return to me as we approach Lent in 2026. God, in His infinite Wisdom, knows that, as humans…as humans with weaknesses, we need seasons to assess our physical, spiritual, and faith lives, and to abstain from often good things, as a work of penance. We do this as a reminder of our dependence on God and as a gesture of gratitude to God for His many gifts.
This time of penance and fasting can lead to greater prayer…and more prayer…or different prayer. Penance and prayer are two aspects of Lent we are meant to focus on…there is one more — almsgiving — giving to the less fortunate and the poor who need our help. This, too, is a reflection of our gratitude to God and our listening to our Savior’s commandment to, “Love your neighbor as yourself…”
In my older years, the wisdom of the three-fold aspects of fasting (penance), prayer, and almsgiving inspire me to try to cover each of these features of Lent in some way. I even gave up snacks, again, a few years ago! God gives us a reason for Lent…it is a preparation for glory…the glory of Easter…
Let us ponder and embark on this holy and penitential season with a sense of joy and gratitude and expectation…
Fr. Chris Uhl, OM
