Making the Most of Lent
Lent begins tomorrow. How do we make the most of Lent?
Maybe you have given up the same thing for Lent for several years in a row. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if it helps make you a better disciple or if it is a true sacrifice that shows how important your faith is to you.
On the other hand, if it has become routine, then maybe it is time for you to do something different. Or perhaps you are called do the same thing with a new understanding or depth.
In evaluating our “routine” Lenten sacrifice to discern if it helps us make the most of Lent, I think we should start by asking ourselves if it helps us grown in our personal relationship with Jesus. Another question we might ask ourselves is, “Does it help us witness to how important our faith is to us?”
When we think of what a good sacrifice for Lent would be, we might think of something that we desire. What effect will giving it up have on us? For example, if you love a cup of coffee to start your day, it might be a real sacrifice for you to give it up. However, if giving up coffee gives you headaches and makes you miserable to be around, giving it up might not make you a good witness to what it means to be a good Christian.
On the other hand, if giving up something is easy, maybe it isn’t a sacrifice for you. For example, it is not a sacrifice in any form for a vegetarian to not eat meat on Fridays. They never do. In the same way, giving up something because you hate it isn’t a sacrifice.
We generally think of our Lenten sacrifice as given up a thing we enjoy. I like to point out to people that giving time to Jesus can be a sacrifice, especially if you give up time doing something you enjoy.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. For instance, if you are retired and like to sleep late, then getting up in time to go to daily Mass can be a sacrifice. Add to that the fact that by going to daily Mass, you get to hear God’s Word, celebrate the sacrifice Jesus offers for us on the Cross, and the Eucharist is offered, one should ask why they won’t go to daily Mass (see my article, “Why It is Good to Go To Daily Mass and Holy Hours?”).
In giving up some time for Jesus, you might ask yourself, “is there a spiritual or corporal work of mercy that our Lord is calling you to do this Lent to help make the world a better place (see my presentation, The Journey to Jesus: Acts of Mercy).
Or is there something our Lord is calling you to do to witness to the dignity of life from the moment of conception till natural death? This could be corporal works of mercy to help those in need have a better life. It could be learning how to express to others when life begins and when it ends (see my article, “The Beginning and the End”). It might be asking God to strengthen you to stand up for life even when it might seem like the battle is already lost (see my article “It is Not Over!”).
In each of these suggestions, please note that there is some action involved. When I place ashes on people’s forehead, I use the words, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” Believe is a verb. Action is required. What action is our Lord calling you to?
Peace,
Fr. Jeff
P.S. For more on the customs of Lent and making the most of Lent, please see my video presentation, Starting Lent Right.