A Quinquagesima Sunday Thought About Our Lenten Resolutions
Last Sunday we reminded you that Lent was coming soon. We recalled that, for centuries, the Church's liturgical calendar included three Sundays before Lent - called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquigesima - which were designed to remind of the coming of Lent, which encouraged us to prepare ourselves. Unless you attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, you no longer receive the benefit of this wise and fitting tradition. In consideration of that fact, we reminded you last Sunday and now this Sunday that Lent is just about here. In fact, Ash Wednesday arrives this week.
I hope you've taken some time to prepare for Lent already, but if not, now's the time. Don't wait for Ash Wednesday. And today being Sunday - the Lord's Day - you should have some time to pray for the grace to plan your Lent. (If you don't have time today for this, ask yourself why. If it's the Lord's Day, we should all make time for the Lord, right? And while attending Mass is a start, you might think about spending a little more time and effort attending to that which brings us closer to God, rather than focusing strictly on the fact that you're "off" from work.)
Now here are some suggestions to help us all as we firm up Lenten resolutions, just some things I've read recently that I've found helpful in my own planning.
First, let's look at "giving up." Giving something up for Lent remains a time-honored practice. But ask yourself whether your resolve to avoid sweets or alcohol or to avoid another favorite food or drink might not serve you rather than God. Could it be a way, for example to lose a few pounds, or in some way to live a more healthy life. Nothing wrong with living more healthy, but are your focusing her on yourself or on God? Is God really particularly offended by your eating candy or having a drink? Aren't pride, impatience, rash judgement, uncharitable speech, harshness towards others, or one of the host of other vices and negligences which we sinners harbor the things that really offend God? And wouldn't it make sense to expend our efforts attacking one or more of these rather than avoiding chocolate? Putting it another way, wouldn't God prefer a pure heart to an empty stomach?
I'm not suggesting that you not give something up for Lent. But I am suggesting that digging deeper to root out some fault or faults would serve your spiritual life better and please God more. It's just common sense, isn't it?
The ashes we receive this Wednesday remind us that we are dust. This world will pass. We will - all of us - soon die and face Our Lord and Savior, who will judge each of us. Will he care more about whether you gave up chocolate for a few weeks than the fact that you speak harshly to your wife and children, or that you judge others without, as Our Lord says, seeing the beam in your own eye?
So there's work to be done here and now. Take the time to do it now. Examine your conscience, dig deep. Look for that fault or faults that you know, in your heart, keeps you from drawing closer to God. Think about ways to attack it in some special way during Lent, day by day, bit by bit. Whether or not or how much you succeed will be up to God. Putting in the effort, however, is up to you. Our Lord will help you sustain your effort if you ask Him. Ask your favorite saint for their intercession in your efforts. Pray for the grace you will need and then get to work on your Lenten resolutions.
I hope you've taken some time to prepare for Lent already, but if not, now's the time. Don't wait for Ash Wednesday. And today being Sunday - the Lord's Day - you should have some time to pray for the grace to plan your Lent. (If you don't have time today for this, ask yourself why. If it's the Lord's Day, we should all make time for the Lord, right? And while attending Mass is a start, you might think about spending a little more time and effort attending to that which brings us closer to God, rather than focusing strictly on the fact that you're "off" from work.)
Now here are some suggestions to help us all as we firm up Lenten resolutions, just some things I've read recently that I've found helpful in my own planning.
First, let's look at "giving up." Giving something up for Lent remains a time-honored practice. But ask yourself whether your resolve to avoid sweets or alcohol or to avoid another favorite food or drink might not serve you rather than God. Could it be a way, for example to lose a few pounds, or in some way to live a more healthy life. Nothing wrong with living more healthy, but are your focusing her on yourself or on God? Is God really particularly offended by your eating candy or having a drink? Aren't pride, impatience, rash judgement, uncharitable speech, harshness towards others, or one of the host of other vices and negligences which we sinners harbor the things that really offend God? And wouldn't it make sense to expend our efforts attacking one or more of these rather than avoiding chocolate? Putting it another way, wouldn't God prefer a pure heart to an empty stomach?
I'm not suggesting that you not give something up for Lent. But I am suggesting that digging deeper to root out some fault or faults would serve your spiritual life better and please God more. It's just common sense, isn't it?
The ashes we receive this Wednesday remind us that we are dust. This world will pass. We will - all of us - soon die and face Our Lord and Savior, who will judge each of us. Will he care more about whether you gave up chocolate for a few weeks than the fact that you speak harshly to your wife and children, or that you judge others without, as Our Lord says, seeing the beam in your own eye?
So there's work to be done here and now. Take the time to do it now. Examine your conscience, dig deep. Look for that fault or faults that you know, in your heart, keeps you from drawing closer to God. Think about ways to attack it in some special way during Lent, day by day, bit by bit. Whether or not or how much you succeed will be up to God. Putting in the effort, however, is up to you. Our Lord will help you sustain your effort if you ask Him. Ask your favorite saint for their intercession in your efforts. Pray for the grace you will need and then get to work on your Lenten resolutions.
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