Why Do We Spend 40 Days Preparing for Easter?

Preparation.  It is one of the tougher things in life.  It requires both working hard and waiting for the finished product.  For most of us, either one or the other of those is really difficult.  But imagine going to a concert, a retreat, or a wedding, where the preparation had been skimpy: the sound system is off, the slideshow has misspellings, the dip has no chips, the cake has no plates, and a key person is missing.  Or imagine attending without doing your own personal preparation: you are unfamiliar with the band, you haven’t slept for a week, and all your decent clothes are in the dirty laundry basket.  Are you going to enjoy the event?  No.

            The Church in her wisdom knows we need time to get our hearts and our lives oriented to God so that we can fully experience Holy Week, both as actors who have parts to play in the drama, and as attendees who want to fully appreciate the show.  Lent is a gift, giving us the time and the activities that will help us fully prepare ourselves.  Take advantage of Lent, starting right now.  If you pause and listen prayerfully, you’ll know where you need to make more room in your heart and your life for the Lord.