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?

Update on Uncomfortable

I thought it appropriate to follow up on Wednesday's blog "The Anchoress Made Me Feel Uncomfortable" in which I questioned whether I was brave enough to pray a simple prayer I prayed several years ago:

"God, do for me what I am afraid to do for myself. Take away what you don't want me to have, and give me only what You Will."

The question cuts deep as it shows fear on my part; fear to trust God in all things even after all He has brought me through. It also shows a fear on my part to embrace suffering; "pruning", if you will.

Lisa Graas (Catholic Bandita <And if you don't read this blog already, you should.>) commented

There will come a point when you will seek the Cross in all things because you know that is where Jesus is. To be humble is to know the love of Jesus. To be unafraid is to know the love of Jesus. To be subjected to the thorns of hateful words is to know the love of Jesus. After a while, you seek the love of Jesus so much that you hope for crosses. You hope to be made "uncomfortable" and then the things that were once uncomfortable are all transformed into the love of Jesus, and so it is not "uncomfortable" at all. It is just love for Him and from Him.

I will again be praying this simple prayer. I am not saying that all of a sudden these insecurities and spiritual deficiencies of mine are gone, but I do know that God wants me to experience "more fruitful growth", and that's enough for me now. Just as, with God, imperfect contrition can be transformed to perfect contrition, I believe that God will be "abidingly patient" with me as He teaches me How to love Him more.

This is "Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay:

I look beyond the empty cross, forgetting what my life has cost; so wipe away the crimson stains and dull the nails that still remain -----take my world apart