Lent’s a beautiful opportunity for grace and growth, but (like anything good) Satan can twist it. It’s easy for our penances to become about us, for us to be discouraged when we fail or arrogant when we succeed. 24 hours in, it’s probably about time for us to start checking our motivations and letting the Lord refine us. So let’s get judgey for a minute–judgey about imaginary people with imaginary problems so we can be convicted about our real problems.
1. “Super psyched about fasting this Lent. #skinny #40daycleanse”
The point of your Lenten observances isn’t to get hot or impress people. It’s to live for the Lord. Most of us will have some selfishness mixed in, but if it’s all about you, drop it and find something that’s more about him.
2. “I’m giving up TV for Lent, but it’s cool. I’ve got Netflix.”
Don’t sub out one empty pleasure with another. Read a good book. Call a friend. Go outside.1 Basically, if it feels like cheating, it probably is.
3. “Oh, chocolate? Gosh, I love chocolate. Too bad I gave it up for Lent. You’re so lucky that you didn’t give up chocolate. I guess I’m just really trying to be holy, you know? But not everybody can be holy like me.”
There might be some Lenten observances that you can’t keep quiet.2 And some might be encouraging to others.3 Or maybe you need some encouragement.4 But if you’re just bragging, shut up.
4. “Ew ew ew ew creamy peanut butter ew ew ew ew ew!! Ugh, this is so hard! My life is so hard!!!”
Sometimes it’s veiled bragging, but whether you’re showing off or not, complaining about your penance kind of defeats the purpose. Try asking yourself: is my fast worse than being crucified? If it isn’t, don’t complain about it. If it is, oh my gosh stop it right now!
5. “Shut up! SHUT UP!! Why are you talking to me??? Sorry…I gave up coffee for Lent.”
If it’s more of a penance for those around you than it is for you, stop. Also, deal with your addiction–just maybe not cold turkey.
6. “I love this no meat Friday thing! Seriously, lobster’s, like, my favorite.”
Please don’t use abstinence as an excuse to indulge in something expensive. Or even something delicious. If you really, really love seafood, you should probably avoid it on Fridays in Lent. Penance should be a sacrifice, not just a hoop to jump through.
7. “Yeah, I gave up Skittles but then I forgot and ate them so now I’m back on my diet of skittles as a side dish with every meal.”
Lent is like life. If you fall, you repent and get back up. Don’t quit just because you failed–recognize your weakness and rejoice that your salvation doesn’t depend on your penances. Then start again.
8. “Aw, man! There were coffee grounds at the bottom of my cup and I swallowed them. Does that count as one of my three meals?”
On the flip side, some of us get so obsessed with the rules (even the ones we’ve set for ourselves) that we quit being broken sinners in the arms of a merciful God and start being Pharisees. Have mercy on yourselves and let him be the strong one.
9. “I gave up beer for Lent, which is awesome because I’m saving crazy money. I’m going to use it for a new tattoo once Easter comes.”
The purpose of your fasting is to make room in your life for the Lord. I’ve got nothing against tattoos, but maybe if your fasting is saving you money, you could send that money on and turning your fasting into almsgiving. It’ll help keep that selfishness from creeping in.
10. “I’m giving up homework for Lent.”
I’m sorry, every smart aleck kid ever, you can’t give up an obligation.
Speaking as one who’s probably committed every one of these, let me give you some consolation: it’s okay to fail at Lent. It’s hard to fast, hard to turn your heart back to the Lord, hard to live in the shadow of the cross. But as with so much in life, it’s not about you. It’s about Christ at work in you. Start over each day and let him teach you more and more to live for him. That’s what Lent’s about: not fasting, almsgiving, or even prayer, but a love of God that transforms you. Verso l’alto, my friends. Let’s be saints.
- Unless you, like me, are stuck in the frozen wasteland that is Michigan. [↩]
- When I gave up sarcasm, for example, people kept wondering what was wrong with me until I explained my frequent tense silences. [↩]
- “I’m doing daily Mass during Lent. Want to join me?” [↩]
- “I can’t do it! I can’t live without Twitter!! Help me!!!” [↩]
“Try asking yourself: is my fast worse than being crucified?” Yep, this pretty much says it! Good job—again!
11. Don’t give up something objectively sinful for Lent.
That’s great if somebody wants to root out sin from their lives, but that’s not what a penance is, and rooting out sin should not be a temporary endeavor. It is encouraging to note, however, that rooting out sin is generally a common outcome of choosing and executing a legitimate form of penance.
Posted this on my FB page, hope you don’t mind. It is perfect.
Could not have said it better.
God bless you Meg. Miss you. When will you be back in LV to evangelize with us?
This is so great!! Thanks for posting on FB Ed!! God bless you my brother in Christ. Hugs, Janice.
Meg, this is a great post!! Thanks so much!! Yes, when will you be in Las Vegas next? We miss you! God bless you always my sister in Christ. Hugs, Janice
I needed this because even if we are just starting, I kinda bragged about my Ash Wednesday fast. From now, I’m keeping Lent and my penance for myself (well for the Lord of course) and I’m really going to try my best to stay humble. But you are right, our sacrifices are nothing!!!
So perfect, Meg! I am glad I read this today (Thursday after Ash Wednesday) so that I could reflect and refocus. I did complain about being hungry before lunch time, which is pathetic. I had a (light) breakfast. I don’t know what real hunger is, but that small discomfort in my comfortable life is enough to make me feel as thought I am suffering. At least I did recognize that actually feeling hungry before my meal was not as bad as being crucified, and it isn’t even as bad as so many in the world live with daily.
I also failed at not yelling yesterday. As a parent (my son is 4, and we have probably spoiled him a bit) my biggest weakness is losing patience coupled with anger, which results in the yelling. With a contrite heart I enter this second day of Lent with the resolve to at the least be better than I was yesterday!
This was soooo right on. Humorous but to the point. Thanks
Thank you! My husband are both really challenging ourselves this year. Moreso than in any year previously. We didn’t talk about it beforehand, but it will great to support each other going forward. Incidentally, my 6 year old son said he wanted to give up “screens” (TV, iPad, computers) and I talked him out of it. There’s no way he would have been able to stick with it and I didn’t want him to pick something he’d really regret. He ended up picking chocolate. I think he can do that!
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This is so great!! Thanks for posting on FB Ed!! God bless you my brother in Christ. Hugs, Janice.
Meg, this is a great post!! Thanks so much!! Yes, when will you be in Las Vegas next? We miss you! God bless you always my sister in Christ. Hugs, Janice
This is so great!! Thanks for posting on FB Ed!! God bless you my brother in Christ. Hugs, Janice.
Meg, this is a great post!! Thanks so much!! Yes, when will you be in Las Vegas next? We miss you! God bless you always my sister in Christ. Hugs, Janice
I really enjoyed your article Meg! Some great reminders, with humor to boot. 40 days to get our eyes back on The Prize– Jesus himself! We can do this!