As we enter Lent, it is helpful first to clarify what is the meaning of what we do. It is evident that the purpose of Lent is not to be found in what we eat and do not eat. In the revelation called «The Shepherd» from the middle of the second century fasting is characterised in military terminology as «station», i.e. being on guard duty.

Thus fasting is understood as spiritual discipline through which we open ourselves to God’s grace. The Shepherd tells the seer: «God does not wish a vain fast … But fast to God in this way: Do nothing evil in your life, but serve the Lord with a pure heart, keep his commandments and walk in his ordinances …»

In other words, Lent is a voyage of self-discovery, a spiritual discipline in which we learn to open ourselves to Christ’s presence in our lives.