DISCLAIMER: THIS STORY IS PART OF REPUBLICASIA’S HOLY WEEK SPECIAL AND IS NOT, IN ANY WAY, INTENDED TO PROMOTE OR IMPOSE A CERTAIN FAITH, RELIGOUS BELIEF, AND METHOD OF COUNSELING.

THE LENTEN season provides Christians around the world an opportunity to reflect on their spirituality and atone for their transgressions. 

The 40-day period leading up to Easter starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes with Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday. 

Many Christians choose to fast or give up particular indulgences or luxuries during Lent as a form of discipline and sacrifice.

Others choose to pray and meditate more, attend additional church services, and engage in acts of service and charity.

The period of Lent is meant to symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry, according to Pastor Jose Basilio of First Door of Faith Church. 

“It is a time to reflect on our own spiritual journeys, and to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our salvation,” he said.

According to Gravity Leadership, one of the traditional activities done by believers during Lent is fasting, which is based on Matthew 4:1-1 which narrates how Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness and afterwards “he was starving.”

“Fasting is a way to place ourselves in the way of grace by withdrawing our reliance on earthly things so that we can feast on God’s presence and power,” it read.

In Catholic doctrine, it is obligatory for the congregation to observe fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fridays during the Lenten season also call for abstinence, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For many Christians, including Angela Bustamante, 23, Holy Week meant fasting for a particular period of time.

“Hindi ako hyper-religious na person pero I believe fasting during the Holy Week meant not eating or drinking anything similar to what Jesus did in the Bible before he was crucified by the Romans,” Bustamante said. 

Importance of fasting

However, Pastor Basilio said the observance of the Lenten season is more than just skipping meals. 

“During our fasting, we bring our petitions before the Lord and ask for forgiveness for all our sins and shortcomings,” he told republicasia.

“This is to show our own way of sacrifice, love, and gratitude for our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and sacrificed His own life on the cross for us,” Pastor Basilio added.

He also said that fasting is viewed as a means to discipline the body and focus the mind on spiritual matters. 

This means people are able to concentrate more easily on prayer, meditation, and other religious practices when they refrain from eating or indulging in other pleasures.

Moreover, it can help individuals recognize their dependence on God and cultivate a sense of humility. By acknowledging their need for sustenance and choosing to abstain, individuals can gain a deeper appreciation for the gifts and blessings in their lives.

For Pastor Basilio, there are things Gen Zs and millennials can do during Holy Week. For instance, they can refrain from using their mobile phones, avoid reading books, and binge-watch television series. 

Fasting can also be done in the following ways:

• Fasting from food associated with feasting — This may include desserts, alcohol, chocolate, etc.
• Fasting from habits and comforts — This may include shopping, reading, using elevators, etc.
• Fasting from media and entertainment — This may include playing video games, watching TV, streaming videos, listening to music, etc.

Abstinence, Pastor Basilio said, is dependent on the person who is doing it. 

Pastor Basilio also urged Christians to practice fasting and abstinence wholeheartedly because they demonstrate sincerity and appreciation for the love and mercy that God has shown them through Jesus Christ.