Living Liturgically (Even When It's Hard)
Today is Friday in the Third Week of Lent.
I don’t know about you, but for me, It's been very difficult
this year. I think it's because my husband and I decided to truly live like its
Lent. We gave up a whole list of things together, along with our separate
sacrifices. It isn’t that they are hard things in themselves. They're just
little pleasures we enjoy on a normal basis, like alcohol, YouTube, and
movie-night popcorn.
Looking back on Lents passed, especially those of my high
school years, I feel like I never really did that much. I would give up one
thing, usually TV or dessert. It would be so hard for me but I still remember
even on one Good Friday, I was upset because my parents wouldn’t let me go to
my ballroom dance class. (Now I thank you mom and dad for teaching me how we
should approach that solemn day!)
It's like I did all the things required of me, but when one
of the most important days of the Church came around, I just didn't get it. I
believe that part of this comes from our culture and how hard it makes it to
live Lent truly.
Lots of Catholics love the idea of "living
liturgically." I know I do! I love putting out an Advent wreath and later
putting sweet baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas Eve. I love making little
treats and meals that reflect a saint’s feast day! I love making a St. Joseph
altar and celebrating all the Marian feasts!
However, it’s hard to do the same in the penitential seasons
when our culture is in a constant state of celebration. They have a new
celebration every month (Black History, Pride, etc.) There is never a time for
waiting or quieting the mind or fasting or denying oneself.
Think about Advent. The whole world is celebrating Christmas
while we're still preparing for Jesus' coming. And once He does come, the world
has already moved on from singing Christmas carols and they have their sights
set on the new year and the next holiday coming up (has anyone else noticed
that Valentine's day is now a major holiday?) Many of us find ourselves
decorating the house after Thanksgiving or singing a Christmas carol before the
25th.
It’s the same for Lent. And it isn't just the culture. It's
the Catholics! Very few of us really and truly live differently during this
season. We get our ashes; we decide to give up chocolate (which we probably
wouldn’t be eating anyway) and we move on with our lives! The only difference
we might see, is the priest is wearing purple at Sunday mass. Do our homes
reflect the season? Do our social lives reflect the season? How about what we
wear and what we eat?
I was reading the Sermons of St. Francis de Sales for Lent
and what he had to say about fasting was very interesting. Most people see
fasting as simply not eating as much as you normally would (one normal meal and
two small meals that don’t equal the normal meal)
While that is part of it, St. Francis quotes St. Bernard in
saying that,
"because it is not our mouth alone which has sinned,
but also all our other senses, our fast must be general and entire, that is,
all the members of the body must fast. For if we have offended God through the
eyes, through the ears, through the tongue, and through our other senses, why
should we not make them fast as well?"
Saint Francis goes on to say, "They must fast by
keeping them [their eyes] lowered and not permitting them to look upon
frivolous and unlawful objects; the ears by depriving them of listening to vain
talk which serves only to fill the mind with worldly images; the tongue, in not
speaking of idle words and those which savor the world or things of the world.
We ought to cut of useless thoughts, vain memories and superfluous appetites
and desires of our will. In short, we ought also to hold in check all those things
which keep us from loving or tending to the Sovereign Good."
Wow, even rereading that is a lot to take in! Does your Lent
reflect this statement made by this great saint? Are we making an intentional
effort to give up all the secular and frivolous things that the world offers
us? Do we make it clear to our friends, children, and extended family that Lent
is a time for stepping back and reflecting on our relationship with God?
This time is precious and despite what the world tells us,
this is the most important thing for us to do with our time. Now don’t get me
wrong, it will be hard. Even in this short two weeks (which feels like a lot
more) We've had to turn down friends and family's invites for fun things. We've
had to sit around the house a little bored (but inspired to pray more)
The weather here down south has been really nice! Nothing
sounded better than to go to this little place in town to play mini golf, eat
good food, and enjoy an adult beverage in the sunshine. Ahh! But, it's still
Lent. Even if it is 70 degrees out.
On a more positive note, both my husband and I have noticed
great spiritual and character growth in these two weeks. The mortification and
hunger pains are not just to make you feel bad. They bring spiritual fruits
that will make you a better and happier person, understanding that God is the
only thing that can make you happy. Not little pleasures of the world, no
matter how much we enjoy them.
I know it isn't fun to deny our flesh but remember that
Jesus came down to suffer and die for you. You better believe that wasn't fun
either. However, there is a time for suffering, and a time for celebration
(Easter!) and if you want to fully enjoy the celebration and fully understand
it, you must first pick up your cross and fully partake in that suffering.
Comments
Post a Comment