(This entry is by Kainoa Fukumoto, young adult ministry coordinator at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Wahiawa.)
Every year, I get asked the same question, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Jokingly, I normally respond, “I’m giving up Lent for Lent.”
Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more intrigued by the question of what I’m “doing” for Lent, as if Lent is just something we “do” once a year. I’m sure most faithful Catholics understand what Lent is about and why we give up things during Lent. But even then, sometimes “doing Lent” takes precedence over “experiencing Lent.”
If I were to ask, “How do you hope to experience Lent this year?” the focus changes to how you hope this season will transform you. So what am I giving up this year? My answer is that I’m giving it all up to God.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
Makana Aiona is the diocesan coordinator for Young Adult Ministry.