Today is the first Sunday in Lent.

Some Anglican bishops in England are getting headlines this Lent by asking their followers to do, this year, a “carbon fast”

They are talking about less using of energy-guzzling luxury items — including, for some reason, iPods.

Has the climate-change lobby skyjacked Lent?

* * *

There’s nothing wrong with cutting our carbon-based energy use. That is something we can do any time . . . and perhaps we should.

Would it “save the planet”? Who knows.

The important thing to remember this Lent is that saving-the-planet is not what God gives us Lent, Passiontide and Easter for.

There is something more important at stake than the planet.

The stakes are higher — spiritual, infinite and eternal.

* * *

Jesus Christ spent 40 days in the desert between Jerusalem and Jericho, fasting, before he started on his public life.

That’s why the Church asks Catholics to spend Lent — 40 days before the seasons of Our Lord’s Passion and Easter – preparing our souls for the supernatural climax of the year.

The traditional methods of preparation are “fasting, prayers and works of charity”.

* * *

So the most important thing about Lent is to make ourselves humble.

We need God. Without him we are nothing.

Our thoughts towards God should be like those of Saint Catherine of Siena:

“Your Passion is neither desired nor loved by anyone who loves himself, but only by the one who has stripped himself of self, and clothed himself with you . . . .”

Although Our Lord can no longer suffer, we, his Church, his Body on earth, can suffer . . . .

And  if we willingly accept our sufferings, offering them up to him, he can use our fasting, prayers and charity to continue his work of redemption in the world.