A Quinquagesima Sunday at the Starting Gate
It's Quinquagesima Sunday in the Church's traditional calendar. We're heading for the starting block. The great race lies before us. It's not a sprint; more of a long-distance affair. We call it Lent.
A lot happens before a track athlete - specifically a runner - walks up to the starting block and takes his or her stance. Great preparation precedes the race. Exercise, good nutrition, endless practice runs - all prepare the runner. We need the same preparation for Lent.
The runner conditions his or her body for days, weeks, months, years, depending on their age and experience. What about us? Have we done the same for our soul before the gun goes off on Ash Wednesday? Have we taken the time to pray, read Scripture and good spiritual works, study our Catholic religion? Do we avail ourselves of the Sacraments on a regular basis? Depending on our age and experience, we should have done so for days, weeks, months, years.
On race day, the runner doesn't just saunter onto the track, take off his warm-up suit, and crouch in the starting block. There's immediate prep first, both mental and physical. Besides stretching the body, the mind focuses on the specific race ahead. Every race is different: short and long-distance, hurdles, steeplechase, relay. Each calls for a different strategy. The serious athlete puts considerable time into plotting that strategy.
In the recent Millrose Games, the American 800 champ, Donovan Brazier, began the race at the back of the pack. He typically bolts out front and just leads the pack. But his coach wants him to learn to deal better with running in the pack. The Olympics are coming up and he'll be racing against not just the best the U.S. has to offer, but the best in the world. There's no guarantee his front-running strategy will work against all competition. So he sat back for three-quarters of the race. In the last lap, he threw his legs into gear and passed everyone, finishing comfortably in the lead. All of that had been planned. Brazier likely "ran" the race in his mind many times before the actual competition. It was quite impressive to watch as it all unfolded.
Now we Catholics face our starting block: Ash Wednesday. Are we going to just saunter up to church this week, get our ashes, then go our merry way? What sort of Lent do you think will ensue with that attitude?
For those of us who practice some form of daily spiritual exercises, it still behooves us to get in some immediate "warm-ups" now. By Ash Wednesday, we should have a plan. Indeed, while writing this post, I wrote mine out in my "Notes" app on my iPhone. This way it'll be with me at all times.
What's your plan? Cover the "Big Three": Prayer, Penance, Almsgiving. Check last Sunday's post if you need more specifics here. We covered each.
How about those of us who really haven't been all that assiduous with our daily spiritual exercise in the past? Fortunately, unlike an athlete, we can still participate effectively this Lent even without previous months and years of prep. It starts with a sincere desire to keep a holy Lent. Do you have that? Good.
Next, for Prayer, maybe you sketch out a daily routine - one that can spill over into the rest of the year. Some things you might include: morning prayer, daily rosary, weekday Mass, regular Confession.
For Penance, I suggest you ignore the current fashion of downplaying "giving things up." While it's true that giving up chocolate while being a creep won't gain you any merit, that doesn't mean you just forego some form of serious penance. Any sort of self-denial will do - as long as it hurts a bit. For me, giving up sweets won't hurt: I generally don't eat 'em anyway. So find something - or things - that will serve to at least cause as much discomfort as a stone in your shoe.
For Almsgiving, again, check our post last Sunday.
So all you athletes, the race beckons. It's time to prepare.
A lot happens before a track athlete - specifically a runner - walks up to the starting block and takes his or her stance. Great preparation precedes the race. Exercise, good nutrition, endless practice runs - all prepare the runner. We need the same preparation for Lent.
The runner conditions his or her body for days, weeks, months, years, depending on their age and experience. What about us? Have we done the same for our soul before the gun goes off on Ash Wednesday? Have we taken the time to pray, read Scripture and good spiritual works, study our Catholic religion? Do we avail ourselves of the Sacraments on a regular basis? Depending on our age and experience, we should have done so for days, weeks, months, years.
On race day, the runner doesn't just saunter onto the track, take off his warm-up suit, and crouch in the starting block. There's immediate prep first, both mental and physical. Besides stretching the body, the mind focuses on the specific race ahead. Every race is different: short and long-distance, hurdles, steeplechase, relay. Each calls for a different strategy. The serious athlete puts considerable time into plotting that strategy.
In the recent Millrose Games, the American 800 champ, Donovan Brazier, began the race at the back of the pack. He typically bolts out front and just leads the pack. But his coach wants him to learn to deal better with running in the pack. The Olympics are coming up and he'll be racing against not just the best the U.S. has to offer, but the best in the world. There's no guarantee his front-running strategy will work against all competition. So he sat back for three-quarters of the race. In the last lap, he threw his legs into gear and passed everyone, finishing comfortably in the lead. All of that had been planned. Brazier likely "ran" the race in his mind many times before the actual competition. It was quite impressive to watch as it all unfolded.
Now we Catholics face our starting block: Ash Wednesday. Are we going to just saunter up to church this week, get our ashes, then go our merry way? What sort of Lent do you think will ensue with that attitude?
For those of us who practice some form of daily spiritual exercises, it still behooves us to get in some immediate "warm-ups" now. By Ash Wednesday, we should have a plan. Indeed, while writing this post, I wrote mine out in my "Notes" app on my iPhone. This way it'll be with me at all times.
What's your plan? Cover the "Big Three": Prayer, Penance, Almsgiving. Check last Sunday's post if you need more specifics here. We covered each.
How about those of us who really haven't been all that assiduous with our daily spiritual exercise in the past? Fortunately, unlike an athlete, we can still participate effectively this Lent even without previous months and years of prep. It starts with a sincere desire to keep a holy Lent. Do you have that? Good.
Next, for Prayer, maybe you sketch out a daily routine - one that can spill over into the rest of the year. Some things you might include: morning prayer, daily rosary, weekday Mass, regular Confession.
For Penance, I suggest you ignore the current fashion of downplaying "giving things up." While it's true that giving up chocolate while being a creep won't gain you any merit, that doesn't mean you just forego some form of serious penance. Any sort of self-denial will do - as long as it hurts a bit. For me, giving up sweets won't hurt: I generally don't eat 'em anyway. So find something - or things - that will serve to at least cause as much discomfort as a stone in your shoe.
For Almsgiving, again, check our post last Sunday.
So all you athletes, the race beckons. It's time to prepare.
Happy Quinguagesima Sunday!
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