I'm not sure that is the right focus.
Give something up and give alms. It's classic, but it is only a pious practice without love. The older I get, the more I understand giving up candy and cartoons really isn't what it's all about. Giving up sin, yes. Giving up things that lead to sin, yes. Giving up legitimate joys and pleasures, yes indeed. But why?
For love.
To love God - and our neighbor as ourselves, but most importantly, to fulfill the will of God: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. [Dt. 6:5]. In and through this supreme act of charity, we accomplish the other, to love our neighbor as ourselves.
I like to approach Lent in this way: Meditating on the counsels of John of the Cross, noting especially his teaching on the purification of the will through charity. For me, it lends a more profound meaning and purpose to the observance of Lent.
For a treatise on the active night and denudation of this faculty, with the aim of forming and perfecting it in this virtue of the charity of God, I have found no more appropriate passage than the one in chapter 6 of Deuteronomy, where Moses commands: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength [Dt. 6:5]. This passage contains all that spiritual persons must do and all I must teach them here if they are to reach God by union of the will through charity. In it human beings receive the command to employ all the faculties, appetites, operations, and emotions of their soul in God so that they will use all this ability and strength for nothing else, in accord with David's words: Fortitudinem meam ad te custodiam (I will keep my strength for you) [Ps. 59:10].
The strength of the soul comprises the faculties, passions, and appetites. All this strength is ruled by the will. When the will directs these faculties, passions, and appetites toward God, turning away from all that is not God, the soul preserves its strength for God, and comes to love him with all its might. - Ascent Bk III, Ch. 16
Talk about what to give up and give alms - all must be an exercise in charity, a response of love, since as St. John notes, Without works of charity, faith is dead [Jas. 2:20].
Works for me. I still need to pray for the grace to do it.
I'm giving up cartoons and candy. What?
ReplyDeleteI'm going on the traditional Christian fast, no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, oil or wine.
The Orthodox do it well.
DeleteLast year I did simple fast wed and strict fast Friday. It was confusing because I had to figure out what day it was and what I could eat. Now I'm doing the strict fast but don't feel like cooking.
DeleteJust today I received the newsletter from the Carmel in Colorado Springs which contained a very well written reflection on Lent. A small part follows:
ReplyDelete"Well, giving up chocolate is a good start! And you will recall reading or hearing about the three ways of doing penance: fasting, prayer, alms-giving. (See Devotions page for Lent, past Newsletters). These holy practices are important and salutary, as Our Lord Jesus Himself instructs us (St. Matthew 6:1-18). In making use of these practices, it is essential that we have a plan for Lent, some sort of program for ourselves, for without that, we enter Lent as on uncharted waters, floating aimlessly. We should prepare with careful soul searching and a good examination of conscience, focusing especially on the dominant fault/faults of our character, our most frequently committed sins – where we fail God most often. With this good beginning, we can make a pact with the good Lord that we will strive generously to be truly good and no longer offend Him in these ways. And we will achieve, with the help of His grace, the soul-renewal that Lent is meant to be for us."
Thinking about making this Lent meaningful and this impressed me. Very similar to your comments Terry.
Here is there web site:
https://newsletter.sistersofcarmel.com/2019/03/04/the-divine-sculptor/?mc_cid=5b9289b863&mc_eid=725d5e97bb
I like that advice too.
DeleteThe pastor of a parish in my town says he plans to give away something every day. An article of clothing, or a book. He puts it in a bag, and on Good Friday he brings it to St. Vincent de Paul to donate it to the poor. I think it is a splendid idea!
ReplyDeleteI like that idea.
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