Lent is here - get out your axe
Giving up stuff for Lent is all well and good. But getting out that axe and laying it to the root of some fault of faults of ours is the real deal.
Giving up stuff can become a sort of "self-improvement" exercise. But the point of mortifications is to grow closer to God, to become more Christ-like; not just to make ourselves feel better about ourselves.
We give up sweets and lose a little weight. Or how about that "heroic" giving up alcohol? There, we really don't have a drinking problem. Not a drop from Ash Wednesday right through Holy Saturday! Of course, when Easter rolls around, it's so much fun to eat chocolate and drink again. Silly isn't it?
Too many times, fasting and giving stuff up puts the focus on us, not God. Sure, we say we're doing it for Him, and sure, our intentions may be good. But is that what's really going on?
Take out that axe. Think of what's holding you back from being more Christ-like. Is it pride, selfishness, impure thoughts, greed, harshness of speech or manner? Whatever it is, start chopping away. Get the darn thing out and get closer to Christ.
Giving up stuff can become a sort of "self-improvement" exercise. But the point of mortifications is to grow closer to God, to become more Christ-like; not just to make ourselves feel better about ourselves.
We give up sweets and lose a little weight. Or how about that "heroic" giving up alcohol? There, we really don't have a drinking problem. Not a drop from Ash Wednesday right through Holy Saturday! Of course, when Easter rolls around, it's so much fun to eat chocolate and drink again. Silly isn't it?
Too many times, fasting and giving stuff up puts the focus on us, not God. Sure, we say we're doing it for Him, and sure, our intentions may be good. But is that what's really going on?
Take out that axe. Think of what's holding you back from being more Christ-like. Is it pride, selfishness, impure thoughts, greed, harshness of speech or manner? Whatever it is, start chopping away. Get the darn thing out and get closer to Christ.
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