Not Catholic? Great! Read this about Lent. Catholic? You too!

Today is Ash Wednesday, and once again we begin Lent.

Now if you're not Catholic, watching Catholics this time of year can be confusing, and I know that for some it even becomes frustrating.

Even if you're Catholic, you might not be clear about what the purpose of Lent is. Maybe you just do the same thing over and over again each year without a real plan just because that's what you've always done. Maybe you're just doing what you think the Church tells you to do.

"Tells you to do?" Yeh, that can be a real hangup if you're not Catholic. But that's also why you stand to benefit greatly from observing Lenten practices; maybe more than many of your Catholic friends.

Well, what I am saying is that the real benefit of the Lenten journey is the result of an interior desire to improve your relationship with God. That means doing it because it's the right thing to do and you want to do it.

Improving your relationship with God is about conversion, an on-going process of conforming to the Christian life. That means conversion really relates to our disposition with ourselves and others as well as with God.

We accomplish conversion through examination of conscience, admitting our faults, reconciliation, spiritual direction, empathy and action with regard to the poor and suffering, working for and defending what is right and just, enduring suffering and persecution ("take up your cross daily"), etc.

During Lent, we give special attention to the need for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I've used the term "rightly ordered" before, and I will use it here again. To be clear, this means the correct order of things. Rightly ordered, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are expressions of interior penance.

In Matthew 6: 1-18, Jesus presents the proper order as coming from within. Some people get hung up on what He states not to do, but the point He makes is to DO them, but to do them from the heart, the interior.

Now that penance word. Penance expresses our contrition for our sins and our intention to turn away from sin and our attachment to it. Interior penance is best expressed through - you guessed it - prayer, fasting, and almsgivng.

So if the correct order comes from within, why does the Church insist Catholics focus more closely on these during Lent? Because we're human. We have a tendency to forget and/or neglect how to do something without practice.

That is why we say we are "practicing penance." Hopefully, if we practice well enough, we'll get good at it and begin to do it on our own. Perhaps recognizing the benefits of the outward actions will prompt the interior motivation I have been speaking of.

Okay, so today is Ash Wednesday. It's a day of fasting and abstinence. And there'll be more abstaining on Fridays during Lent. You probably get the "fasting" part, but "abstinence?"

Abstaining from meat is a form of penance. It is a very small sacrifice which reminds us of THE sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

When the Church says "do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent", unfortunately it is the outward act which receives the attention. However, the Church is giving us this very small and very simple directive, a precept of the Church, to help us to recognize that we are to grow, to mature beyond a small mandate onto deeper expressions which spring from the interior conversion of the heart.

Enough for today. I hope you find this useful.

Time to Lent Up! What's Your Plan Look Like?

A former manager (and an old friend whom I miss) used to say, 

"If you want to be successful, you have to follow this outline:

• Know your goal. 

• Make your plan. 

• Write your plan.

• Work your plan.

• Review your plan daily.

• Never give up."

Ash Wednesday will arrive in less than 5 days. If you're reading this, you cannot use the excuse that it caught you off guard.

Don't wait til the last minute, quickly coming up with "something to give up or do for Lent" just as a formality or out of obligation. You're much better than that and certainly are called to be much better than that.

I encourage you to "Lent up" this year. Take your Lenten journey to the next level, whatever level that may be. Stop eating the "baby food" of your Faith when there's an unbelievably satisfying banquet that awaits you.

You know what I mean, so I won't even put the guilt trip on you by actually stating that lame thing you keep repeating every Lent. The one that is your "go-to". 

Let's face it. If it was that tough, you wouldn't keep choosing the same thing over and over. If it was something that really edified your Faith, you would have quit it all together (if it's a "give up " thing) or would have continued it regularly (if it's a "going to do" thing).

While you pray about this, thinking about what your plan will be, keep in mind what the purpose of Lent is in the first place.

Right, plan. Make a plan, not just a quickie item or two. Consider a combo: Give up something and utilize the savings (financial or time) on something good or spiritually constructive.

Perhaps an outline of your plan could be:

• I recognize A as being something in my life that I struggle with or that is holding me back from having a more meaningful relationship with God, so I am going to eliminate A from my life.
• I recognize that B would be something that I could really use or do that will help me grow spiritually or with my walk with God, so I am going to add B to my life.
• Additionally, I see X as something in my life that I enjoy. I see Y as a need that my church or someone else has. X is not necessarily "bad" for me, but by eliminating this particular thing from my life during Lent, I  can use the money (or time) that I usually spend on X to give to Y.

While this is just one suggestion of what your plan outline might look like, feel free to use it for yourself. You just have to fill in A, B, X, and Y.

Of course I don't mind telling you that first, your goal should be to become more like Jesus.

Then write your plan down. Look at it. Read it over. Know it.

When Lent arrives, you will be immediately ready to work your plan. Do what you set out to do.

No matter how much you think you know your plan, review your plan daily. Reviewing it visually once you have put it into practice may help you to see things that can be modified to help you achieve the goal you have set.

If you falter or mess up, don't give up. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. Never give up. 

God never gives up on you.

Examining the Purpose of Lent

The beginning of Lent, is one week away. We will be hearing more about penance, fasting, abstaining, etc. People will be talking about what they are "giving up" and when they "are allowed" to do this or that.

It can be easy to lose sight of the real meaning of Lent if the focus is solely on rules or on penitential acts and not on the interior transformation that the Church intends to guide us to and that God is calling us to.

Christians are called to be transformed and conformed more closely to Jesus. We are called to a conversion that is constant and continuous. Lent presents an opportunity to more closely examine our commitment to this conversion and to reorient our lives in a more Christ-like manner.

Rightly ordered though, it is the interior which prompts the exterior. This means that our Lenten practices should be internally motivated. This internal desire to become more like Jesus finds meaningful expression in outward signs and actions. These outward signs and actions in turn call us to an even deeper exploration of the meaning of the Christian life, increasing our desire to become more like Jesus, and so on, and so on.

To become more like Jesus should be our goal during Lent. Observing its practices with an understanding heart truly open to that end can help to shape and transform our lives and thus "the world."

In the coming weeks I will write more about the Lenten journey and hope to encourage you along the way.

Lent: Beyond Requirement to the Open Arms of Jesus

Last month I started a Friday series about the reasons we abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. The point was to just point out the very basics and to give us something deeper to contemplate.

We are nearing the completion of our Lenten journey, and I think there's plenty of material to think about, so let's just re-visit the basics of the series. I've linked the titles back to each post as well.

What Do You Mean You Don't Eat No Meat During Lent!?

In the simplest sense, abstaining from meat is a very small SACRIFICE which reminds us of THE sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Where's the Beef?

Abstaining from meat is a form of PENANCE While abstaining is a reminder to us of the need for penance in our lives, ultimately Jesus calls us to penance which is prompted by, preceded by the interior conversion. Rightly ordered, it is the interior which prompts the exterior.

Feasting on Simplicity

Abstaining from meat is a way to practice SIMPLICITY. Properly approached, abstaining from meat should be offered along with contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer focuses our attention on Heavenly things, fixing our eyes, our hearts on Jesus so that we can hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Assessing Ascesis

Abstaining from meat is a way to practice ASCETICISM. It's true that the Church has put a requirement upon us during Lent. However, as previously stated, it is not intended to impose authority upon us, but to help us to ascend to this higher good, to choose to go beyond requirement and to choose for one's self.

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In all of these instances that I have been writing about, we are practicing something, and practice is a good word here. We are practicing something, learning that there is a deeper meaning to what we are doing. We should be recognizing that abstaining from meat is a simple way toward understanding how to direct other things in our lives, other actions, even our very selves toward God. 

Lent: Assessing Ascesis

Have you ever heard the expression "Practice makes perfect?"

As we continue this look at why we abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, I hope that it is becoming clear that it is much less about rules and impositions and much more about learning how we can enhance and grow our relationship with God.

Again, these posts are not intended to be all-inclusive, so I hope you'll take time to do some additional research of each of the topics.

So far, we've looked at the connections to (or directions toward) sacrifice, penance, and simplicity. 

Abstaining from meat is a way to practice ASCETICISM

A discussion about ascesis should begin with the word "freedom". We can and often do have a distorted view of freedom. True freedom, "free will" has been given to us by God. We have the ability to choose to do right or wrong, even to accept or reject the One who gives us the ability to choose.  

Fine, but what does this have to do with not eating meat?

It's true that the Church has put a requirement upon us during Lent. However, as previously stated, it is not intended to impose authority upon us, but to help us to ascend to this higher good, to choose to go beyond requirement and to choose for one's self.

In all of these instances that I have been writing about, we are practicing something, and practice is a good word here. We are practicing something, learning that there is a deeper meaning to what we are doing. We should be recognizing that abstaining from meat is a simple way toward understanding how to direct other things in our lives, other actions, even our very selves toward God. 

Ascesis is self-denial and self-restraint. It calls for the use of free will to choose for one's self to deny one's self or to restrain one's self. The Christian, recognizing that all he is and has is a gift from God and desires to respond to God (the action of faith itself) by offering himself back to God.

Christians have the example given us by God through the life of Jesus who lived, by choice, a life of self-denial. In fact, Jesus demands of anyone who would dare to call himself a follower of Christ to 

"deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24

The cross, the ultimate act of self-denial. 

The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes - Catechism 2015

By practicing an act which directs us toward ascesis, we move to ascesis itself, and thus a strengthened relationship with God.

Practice makes perfect.

Lent: Feasting on Simplicity

There was a time when I lived in Louisiana that Fridays during Lent were the best days of the year. Oh, I'd like to say that it was because I did a great job working on my relationship with God, but I've been very honest about my short-comings while writing this blog and will continue to do so. No, it was because it was a great time for......crawfish!

Here in North Texas, crawfish are harder to come by; a lot harder! There are some local restaurants who offer boiled crawfish, but most don't have a clue about the proper way to season them. There's at least one that I know of that boils the crawfish in plain water and then sprinkles creole seasoning over the shells.

(You have GOT to be kidding me!) 

There's a few that know what they're doing (and for those in the North Texas area, here's a link to my favorite local authentic Louisiana eatery) but the cost prevents me from being able to buy more than a few pounds. So, once or twice during the year, I purchase some live crawfish and boil them myself.

But back in South Louisiana, the availability of those tasty mudbugs makes them much more affordable. I'm now wondering why am I doing this to myself, and I guess you're wondering where I'm going with this.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I decided to blog about why we abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. In that first post, I wrote about sacrifice. In last week's post, I wrote about penance.

Today is Saturday, and since I was too busy to blog yesterday, I owe you a post.

Abstaining from meat is a way to practice SIMPLICITY

God, by humbling Himself and becoming man, has given us a true example of living. Jesus, born in poverty, lived a life of simplicity and offered His very life for us on the cross, telling us

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24

Gorging on those crawfish was certainly not an example of this, was contrary to the spirit of the action of abstaining, and gave a terrible witness (one of gluttony in fact) to others as to the purpose of abstaining.

Properly approached, abstaining from meat should be offered along with contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer focuses our attention on Heavenly things, fixing our eyes, our hearts on Jesus so that we can hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

When we do this, we learn where our true treasure lies and learn the value of simplicity.

Lent: Where's the Beef?

When I was a Junior in high school, Wendy's had a hit television commercial. In it, three ladies receive their burgers from a competitor. The ladies seemingly receive huge burgers. However, when the crowns of the buns are lifted, it is revealed that the patties are so tiny that they are almost undetectable. This prompts one of them to angrily ask "Where's the beef?"

The phrase has been used repeatedly in various formats, so it is more than likely that some have used the phrase having no idea of its origin.

The same may hold true for many who abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent; doing it but not really knowing why.

Last week, I decided to dedicate short posts on Fridays during Lent to briefly examine why we abstain from meat on these particular days. In that first post, I stated

In the simplest sense, abstaining from meat is a very small sacrifice which reminds us of THE sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Abstaining from meat is a form of PENANCE 

The Holy Spirit brings our sins to light, and although this rightly brings conviction, it is the same Spirit, which is the Consoler, Who gives us the Grace which prompts our repentance and aids in our ongoing conversion.

Penance expresses our contrition for our sins and our intention to turn away from sin and our attachment to it. If we are abstaining without ever giving thought as to why we are abstaining, we are completely missing the point.

While abstaining is a reminder to us of the need for penance in our lives, ultimately Jesus calls us to penance which is prompted by, preceded by the interior conversion. Rightly ordered, it is the interior which prompts the exterior.

When the Church says "do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent", unfortunately it is the outward act which receives the attention. However, the Church is giving us this very small and very simple directive, a precept of the Church, to help us to recognize that we are to grow, to mature beyond a small mandate onto deeper expressions which spring from the interior conversion of the heart.
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Related posts:
What Do You Mean You Don't Eat No Meat During Lent!?
Are you convicted, accused, or left alone?

What Do You Mean You Don't Eat No Meat During Lent!?

My wife loves the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". I think it's okay, but there are a few scenes that I do enjoy.

One of those is that expression of shock by Aunt Voula, "What do you mean he don't eat no meat?" followed by the priceless look on the faces of all those in the room who are now frozen in disbelief.

Sometimes I get that same feeling on Fridays during Lent.

So, let's talk about this on Fridays this Lent; not a big all-encompassing thing. We'll just simply take it one bite at a time.

In the simplest sense, abstaining from meat is a very small sacrifice which reminds us of THE sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Oh, and when we say "meat", it means "fleshy" meat of mammals and poultry. The Latin word "caro", from which we derive the word "meat" means "carnivore" or more exactly "carnivorous" (meat-eater). That's why we do not include fish in this category.

More next Friday. + + +