The most common question one hears around this time of year is “What are you giving up?”
Lent is always seen as a penitential time, and I have no argument with that. We need some penance and self-discipline in our lives. However, what I wish to focus on is the “purpose” of that penance.
Penance for penance sake is negative – it is no more and no less than masochism. Sometimes we have an ulterior motive – I’ll give up cigarettes and improve my health – or - I’ll give up sweets and lose weight. Both of these are examples of a selfish motivation that has nothing to do with a spiritual benefit.
No, the real penance of Lent has to be something that provokes spiritual renewal and regeneration; something that has a very positive and tangible benefit in our life. To my mind that is more than penance, it is the heart, soul and spirit of this sacred season.
Lent is about contemplating the multi-faceted reality that is the Passover of Jesus. What are some of the facets? (only some, each soul finds new ones as they approach the deep mystery)
- There is the physical horror,
- The injustice
- The cowardice of those involved, Peter, Pilate
- The help of strangers
- The desolation of our loss
- The tearing grief of nature
- The generosity of the gift
- The humility of the victim
- The immensity of God’s plan for us
- The totality of Jesus’ love
- The role of Mary
- The role of the Apostles
- And the women
- The mystery of our salvation
- The joy of the resurrection
- The realisation that it was all
because of my weakness
It is the last of these that forms the true understanding of Lent and gives us a hint of what we should be doing.
Lent is a retreat in itself – a time for taking ourselves out of the day-to-day run of life and re-focus our attention on our personal relationship with God.
In order to do this we need to have a “hinge”, a “hook” on which to hang Lent, and for centuries that has been understood as penance rather than the older term mortification. Penance and mortification are not the same. Penance is making amends, mortification is self-denial and self-control as a recognition of our sinful state and need of God’s loving salvation in Jesus Christ.
So, how do we reconcile these? Basically by using the early part of Lent to establish a pattern of mortification so that we become repentant and turn from our personal sins. In the ancient Church this was done in the season leading up to “Shrove Tuesday” so that physical penance, mortification, could be undertaken on Ash Wednesday and be completed by Maundy Thursday.
How can I make this real in my life today? Should I undertake a penance that mortifies me, or a mortification that leads to real repentance and change?
The choice is for the individual to make, but I would suggest the following: Give something up.
What? Isn’t that exactly what you’ve been saying we got wrong? Yes and no.
Don’t give up something for the wrong, selfish reason – give it up because it gives you pleasure and you wish to deny yourself that in order to focus on the love of God.
What do most of us relish more than anything else? Our TIME.
So, my suggestion for Lent 2010 is the same as every year:
Give up your time – give more of your precious time to prayer and good works – give more of your time to reflection and spiritual reading – give more of your time to God and getting to know Jesus better and closer, perhaps reflecting on the list of points above.
Turn off the television, the playstation, the computer. Put on some reflective music and settle into God’s presence.
Do all this and you will truly feel the benefit of this joyful season – yes, joyful, because despite that underlying knowledge that I caused His pain I am filled with joy that, by his loving acceptance of that pain, He caused my salvation and LOVES ME!
+Terry