Triple asceticism of Lent, which is triple the asceticism of the Christian life at any time, is almsgiving, prayer and fasting (Matthew 6:1-18). Note that the three vertices of the 'triangle' that a Christian is addressed in this practice, referred to other almsgiving, prayer refers to God, and refers to me in fasting. Note that we can adapt these practices with a triple structure of temptation identified in the Bible. The attractions of transgression are the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16), which is good for food, pleasing to the eye and wisdom promises (Genesis 3: 6). These things are not in themselves our enemies, but things are most easily turn against us to continue to disproportionately.
What are the classic ascetic practices the antidote to the temptation? Fasting and other disciplines of self-sacrifice to help us manage the desires of the flesh in ways that are appropriate to our real needs and our commitments and relationships. Almsgiving and other practices of charity and justice-making will help us manage our relationships with others, our position in the world and our assessment of what is important in terms of possessions, reputation and achievements. Prayer and other acts of virtue of religion - worship, devotion and sacrifice - to maintain our relationship with God and help us to appreciate that it is in God we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
Lent In practice, these practices with the hope that the benefits will take deeper root in our hearts and lives. It is important that you look at the three, because only then we are living in reality identified by Jesus in the great commandment: Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself.
