Fast vs. Feast

Remember, the only difference between "fast" and "feast" is the letter "e." Notice, it's not "ez?"
(insert uncontrollable laughter here)

I just love how there is a rhythm to our life, a rhythm assumed by the liturgical calendar and how it takes into account our frail humanity. On one level, I would like to think that I love my Lord so much that even if there wasn't a season specifically focused on self-denial and self-offering, I would still be committed to living that life. But it's precisely because my Lord loves us--you and me--so much that the Church gives us Lent just in case.

And it's this just in case part that has occupied my thoughts and what follows in this post. Lent has as its focus the whole pascal event; the life AND death AND resurrection of Jesus Christ is encapsulated in it. In the same way that Jesus' suffering and death--and by the same token his entire life--are ordered to resurrection, so our Lent is to be ordered to a resurrected life in Christ and in the Church.

Thankfully then, Lent is a gift to us BEFORE it is a gift of ours to the Lord. For many of you this is probably a simple truth. But for me, Lent for so long has been about what I'm going to do for God, and not about my allowing his mercy to purify me. More often, Lent turns into an extended exercise of white-knuckle will power. I'd much rather strain than admit my weakness. I think I have somewhere hidden in my mind that my self-worth is at stake and that each new Lent I'm actually going to redeem myself. There have been Lents where I haven't even asked the Lord what he wants for me to give up! I just do an interior inventory and assume God's invitation.

Truth be told, Lent is all about the Lord. It's encountering our weakness and dying to our own visions of what holiness is. Just the other day the Lord said to me, "go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice.'" For the first time in I don't know how long, the Lord opened this verse to me and humbled me, showing me that in fact I do need to "go and learn" what it means for the Lord to desire mercy. That I might be able to go a whole Lenten season without the consolation of a warm caffeinated beverage means nothing if I haven't allowed the Lord to show me mercy and then shown mercy to those around me (<-subject of future Lenten post). My sacrifices will never get me to heaven if they're divorced from his mercy.

My brothers and sisters, this Lent I pray for us all to openly receive the gift of Lent: the awareness of our sinfulness, the necessity of God's grace to heal us and to inspire our penances, and to beg for the grace to answer the call to lavish mercy on all those around us. I also ask for your prayers and for your mercy. It's so consoling to know that we share this journey together.

ad maiorem dei gloriam