Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we enter into the 40 days of the Lenten Season and, are called to a deepening conversion of life and transformation of lifestyle, I send you the summary of the Pope's message for Lent, 2009. I kindly request you to share this message with as many people as possible.
Fasting from food and detaching oneself from material goods during Lent helps believers to open their hearts to God and open their hands to the poor. The Lenten fast helps Christians 'mortify our egoism and open our hearts to love of God and neighbour'.
The Pope reminds us of our obligation to open our hearts and hands to those in need. He says, the Lenten practices of prayers, fasting and almsgiving are meant to help Christians focus on God and prepare for the Easter celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.
From his message specifically on the practice of fasting, the Pope says it is a way for believers to submit themselves 'humbly to God, trusting in his goodness and mercy'.
Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurture an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by his saving word. Through fasting and prayer we allow him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depth of our being: 'the hunger and thirst for God'.
While some people fast to cleanse thier body or to lose weight, Christians fast during Lent in order to 'to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God', the Pope says. 'Freely chosen detachment from the pleasure of food and other material goods helps the disciple of Christ to control the appepites of nature, weakened by original sin.'
At the same time, 'fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live'.
'By fasting in solidarity with the poor, freely embracing an act of self denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger' the Pope says.
I wish you a prayerful Lenten season.
Yours in Christ,
Rev Fr Bernard Makadani Zulu
PMS National Director - Zambia
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