MESSAGE OF ARCHBISHOP SIMON POH
for Lent 2023
“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2)
Dear brothers and sisters,
Season of Spring
In January this year, we celebrated the New Year on 1 January and the Chinese New Year on 22 January. The Chinese New Year officially marks the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season.
Season of Lent is a new springtime
This month in February, we will begin the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on 22 February. The word LENT comes from an Old English word “lencten” referring to the season of spring when this penitential season coincides with springtime in Europe.
For us in the equator, we do not experience the four seasons, but we have seen on TV that spring time is a time of new life, fresh buds, leaves and flowers blossoming on the trees, with birds in the air, animals like rabbits and lambs in the fields. Spring represents a new beginning after the cold winter, teeming with hope, freshness and life.
Scriptural significance of the 40 days of Lent
Scriptures tell us that after his baptism in the river Jordan, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights.” (Mt 4:1-2)
In the Scriptures, 40 days and 40 nights is the time that Moses remained on Mt Sinai with God (Exodus 24:12). It also recalls the 40 years of the wandering in the wilderness of the Israelites during the exodus (Deut 8:2).
We often forget that it was during this time in the desert that God actually travelled, accompanied, protected and provided daily for the people of Israel. It was in the silence of the wilderness that the people had experienced that their God was very close to them.
Likewise, for us the 40 days of Lent should not be a time of gloom or reluctant sacrifice and penance. Rather, Lent is a time of grace for us to leave the busy world behind and retreat into the quiet “desert of prayer”. This is to enable us to encounter and experience our Lord who is indeed, very near to us in our lives each day.
It is good to remind ourselves that Lent is more than observing a period of penance which is to be endured with fasting, abstinence and sacrifices. Lent is our new springtime, a new fresh beginning of hope. Lent is the time of spiritual renewal and grace to live our life with purpose and joy because our Lord is very near to us.
40 days of Lent—fast, pray and give alms
• As you fast and pray, may you meet the Lord who is very near to you.
• Participate in Lenten Stations of the Cross, Masses and Retreats.
• Come to daily Mass to listen and receive God’s Word and Communion.
• Read the Bible and pray.
• Do penance with joy, remembering and offering sacrifices for those who are suffering especially from the recent earthquake in Turkey, victims of flooding in Peru and in our nation Malaysia, etc.
• Let us give alms from the money that we have saved from sacrifices.
• Donate generously to the Lenten Appeal Fund and charities to help alleviate suffering and offer hope.
• Volunteer to do extra acts of kindness and charity for the elderly and those in need.
• Support and donate to the CWS Lenten Appeal Envelopes and Boxes.
I wish you all a spirit filled Lent and a new “spiritual spring”.
