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Wednesday

February 10, 2016

An Assigned Lenten Sacrifice

The following is part of an interview with Fr. James Martin:

“When I told my college housemates about the Christian practice of giving things up for Lent they observed that selecting your own penitence seemed far too easy.

Wouldn’t it be better, my Jewish friend Rob said, if someone else told you what to give up? He had a point. During the 40 days of Lent, Christians make sacrifices for many reasons, to rid themselves of a nasty habit, to identify more with poor, or to save money for charity. But since those sacrifices are self-imposed, they are often easier than they could be. So when my roommate suggested that they decide my penance, I agreed. Some suggestions were rejected out of hand. Finally on Ash Wednesday my friend Rob was designated to tell me that for the next 40 days I would have to forgo orange soda, which I drank in great quantities as an aid to late night studying.

Since then, for over 20 years my friend Rob has phoned me every Ash Wednesday to assign me a Lenten sacrifice. The sacrifices have grown easier over the years since Rob is running out of things for me to give upâ€¦

When I was dealing with a long illness, I once complained to an older priest that I didn’t want that particular cross. He said, well it wouldn’t be much of a cross if you wanted it, would it? But Lent isn’t simply about sacrifice, it is primarily a time to spiritually prepare oneself for Easter. And this may have less to do with not doing something than with doing something.

God would probably be happier, not if I stopped eating candy, but if I did more work on behalf of the poor. Last year I told Rob I was worried that one day he was going to assign something really hard to give up. It was like worrying about God asking me to sacrifice something. Another reason to stay on my good side, said Rob, and on God’s good side, too.”

Visit NPR for the full text of the interview with Fr. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author of My Life with Saints.

For a fun, informative video about Lent, visit Busted Halo.

Year of Mercy Calendar for Today: “”Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Ash Wednesday - Lent begins.