Is It Really Lent Already? Yup.

    This week, we will observe Ash Wednesday with three masses throughout the day and around campus.  With the arrival of the Lenten season, it’s time again to tuck away our liturgical Hallelujahs and decide what gets given up this year. Will it be chocolate? cheeseburgers? Facebook?

I have gone back and forth on the whole “Give up something for Lent” idea.  I don’t believe in treating the Lenten tradition of sacrificing, or fasting, as a type of Catholic New Year’s resolution. For a long time, I was one of those who thought, Don’t just give up something, Do something positive instead! Doing something positive can be something like volunteering or making it to Mass every week.  I still believe that, but doing something is not a substitute for sacrificing something else.

To understand this, it’s helpful to first consider the three ancient practices associated with Lent: prayer, almsgiving and fasting. In fact, these three practices are inseparable from one another and form the backbone of the Christian life year-round, not just for the six weeks of Lent.  When we take the three practices together, it becomes clear that when it comes to giving up something (fasting) versus doing something positive like volunteering (almsgiving) and/or committing to regular times of prayer, it is not an either-or proposition. In fact, fasting only finds its full meaning and power when it is lifted up by what St. Augustine called its two wings: prayer and works of mercy (almsgiving).
   
Now that we see these practices as a spiritual package deal, then maybe for Lent we can commit to practicing all three around a single theme. Take for example, the theme of violence.  Commit to pray a little each day for peace in war-torn parts of the world. Join the weekly tutoring effort in Vickery Meadow to help kids, most of whom have come to the U.S. fleeing violence in their native lands. Give up violence-drenched media: TV, movies, video games. This is just one example of how it might work if you examine your life and search your heart in prayer for a “theme” for your Lenten practice. I challenge you to come up with your own. If you do, I pray the Holy Spirit will bless you with the fruits of your desire to grow closer to God this Lent through a conscious commitment to follow Jesus in prayer, fasting and works of mercy.