W A S T E D: Forty Days Fast

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DR Jalarth Uche Opara

On the 18th of February 2026, forty-days journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving began with Ash Wednesday.

From 18 February to 5 April gives one forty-six days. Remove the six Sundays, days traditionally not observed as fasting one is left with forty days.

Today is the 2nd of April.

In few hours from now Thirty-eight days of fasting would have been done and dusted, accompanied by almsgiving and fervent prayers , days which for me, have been W A S T E D! W A S T E D!! And Very much W A S T E D!!!

Looking back to that Ash Wednesday: the church auditorium filled to capacity, people jostling to have their foreheads marked with ash, a reminder of the vanity of life and where our bodies came from—dust.

The zeal was evident everywhere: the determination to push through the Lenten season with vigor and resolution very profound. But the question remains: has it been a W A S T E D season of Lenten observance?

For me, it was thirty-eight days W A S T E D, dealing with personal issues, vices, and many other encumbrances, things that became my spiritual project to manage or eliminate.

Our Lenten experiences differ. My journey may not be yours. My obstacles may not be yours. My slippery spots may be another person’s comfort zones.

We are all Catholics, in the same Church, listening to the same sermons yet what we confront in our private moments very different.

When I say my thirty-eight days of fasting have been W A S T E D, please believe me. I have observed Lent for many decades, but this year’s experience feels different. It has been intense, intentional, and the W A S T E D nature of it all is very striking.

Thirty-eight days W A S T E D—(Warring Against Sin, Temptations, External Distractions)—with a level of success that is, comparatively, encouraging.

Every life of a Christian that worths it salt should be a life of W A S T E ( Warring Against Sin/ temptation ) Not a R I S E N ( Romancing In Sin exhibiting Notoriety ) Lifestyle.

The joy of Easter celebrations should be evident in the depth of ones W A S T E D lifestyle. A life that basks in the euphoria of R I S E N- (Romancing In Sin Exhibiting Notoriety ) Should be a life trapped in the grave too heavy and clumsy to resurrect with Christ, who gives the power to live W A S T E D

Happy Easter in advance to all those whose lives have been W A S T E D this 38 days and would continue to be W A S T E D daily without being R I S E N

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