Lent has always felt very intense to me, as a child I remember everyone saying “I’m giving up soda” or some other sweet. I remember the huge emphasis on fasting, but what else was there? All Lenten fasts and goals are sound, we give up what we can, but what can we give up (or do) when we are struggling or to still be able to function in the world we live in today. I have always felt like I have been unable to keep Lenten promises and have felt discouraged when I have failed. During this season, I have tried to find ways to make meaningful promises and be resilient in keeping them through a series of reflections I have found.
I recently watched a short reflection by Fr. James Martin where he talked about Lent as a time to prepare yourself for joy. He says that when you fast or practice almsgiving, you are letting go of worldly possessions and freeing yourself of those burdens. It’s hard to see fasting as a form of freeing yourself, but I wanted to better understand. During our Lectio Divina, someone said that when you fast your mind can sharpen and clear your mind. In Fr. James Martin’s reflection, he spoke about fasting and almsgiving as the pathways to joy. Letting go of material things is not only “giving up chocolate”, but a change of heart. This notions made me think of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, a show that teaches organization and helps people “declutter” their lives. She is known for her phrase “Sparking Joy”, where you keep or toss an item depending on the joy it brings you. I know it is silly but I honestly think this is a useful statement when trying to figure out your Lenten goals. When trying to think of what to do for Lent, you can ask yourself these questions…
Do my habits bring me joy?
Do I feel joy in the words I share with others?
Do I feel joyful about the way I spend my time?
Maybe there is a habit you want to break, relationships you would like to mend, or more ways you can appreciate God’s creation. This probably doesn’t work in the way “does having a coffee or a sweet everyday bring me joy”, the answer would probably be yes, which is extremely valid. It’s not about extinguishing joy, but curbing over indulgence and attempting to get rid of bad habits. I think what Fr. James Martin said is connected to this, by denying yourself wants or by breaking habits you can open your heart to joy and love.
Now, keeping a Lenten promise is the other half of the battle. We tend to be very hard on ourselves when we fail or lose confidence. When struggling with fasting, I think of St. Ignatius of Loyola who observed intense fasts, but after a vision he realized it was hindering his spiritual life. I find comfort in his realizations of understanding his humanity. This gives a realistic view of what we can do during Lent. We don’t need to observe severe fasting to be closer to God, but we should still challenge ourselves. Finding this balance is hard, but we are able to find a medium. (In St. Ignatius’s “Spiritual Exercises”, there are guidelines or rules of eating that set out to help you fast, but without hurting yourself. I honestly didn’t know about this and I think it is something that has helped me better understand what it means to fast.) If we mess up our fast, we can reflect and keep going. It is important to pray during these struggles. By taking a small moment of prayer and asking God for grace and help to fulfill your Lenten goals. This change starts through prayer and reflection, we need to accept our humanity and practice humility. It is hard to accept our weaknesses and to try again, but through the intercession of St. Ignatius we can find comfort for our anxieties and trust in God.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
We can find peace and joy in Lent this year. Through my reflection, I have found comfort in the challenge of Lent. In reality I am not giving anything up, but gaining strength in my faith and relationship with God. Through St. Ignatius’s prayer, I hope to find guidance this Lent to do what I can and open my heart to God.
