The Lent to a Better World

Written By Estephany Tellez

As of Wednesday, February 18th, it is officially the start of Lent. Catholics run to church on Ash Wednesday and receive a cross marked on their foreheads.

Ash Wednesday marks the heart of a sinner seeking repentance and prayer during the 46 days of Lent, leading to Easter Sunday.

Many Catholics use these 46 days to repent, fast, and reflect in preparation to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As a Catholic, along with others around me, I give something up during Lent.

It can be to stop gossiping and talking badly about people during Lent. On the other hand, people will give up having sexual intercourse with their partners during Lent, or stop procrastinating. Some may even pledge to stop drinking, smoking, or overeating.

Many catholics I know tend to stop eating meat every Friday, and the very last week of Lent, give up eating meat the whole week since it is one of the easiest things to promise God and not fall into temptation.

Although many tend to accomplish it to the very end, Lent represents the start of improving one's life. It seems many believe it ends on Easter.

For instance, a person can give up drinking, but once they get the opportunity after Easter, they may get drunk to the point where they are falling and can't stand straight.

Another person can stop talking badly about people and criticizing people during Lent, but once Lent ends, they go back to criticizing, putting all their hard work in the garbage, making Lent a waste of time.

Which is why, during Lent, it is important to reflect on one's changes and ensure they become more than just something they gave up for Lent. Instead, something sustainable.

Hopefully, Lent will be different this year and possibly make the world a better place, even by a tiny bit.