Why I Didn't Give Up Anything For Lent

I remember when I went to my first Confirmation class during my 9th grade year, as everyone came in, we each chose a sticky name tag with a logo one it- some were Coca-Cola or Pepsi, other had various clothing brands or sports teams on them. We all identified with something, something that we thought represented us. Later during the class, we were taught that should all identify as children of God. But now, I see a similar situation happening among Catholics during Lent. We identify with what we "give up". We choose the hardest things, the rarest things, and the most things. The weeks preceding Lent, we go around asking and being asked what we're giving up. Secretly, we judge those who use the "cop outs" of chocolate or sweets. We try to one-up those whose sacrifices appear to be a formidable opponent to ours. We go around wearing these offerings like badges of honor. This is my first issue with giving up things for Lent- not necessarily the practice, but the culture which surrounds the practice. It encourages pride and destroys humility. I would know, I was a participant. I remember walking around the cafeteria of my high school with my head held high thinking that I was better than all these other people eating, because I had given up lunch for Lent. Then I'd get home from school and gorge on every morsel in every part of the kitchen. On the outside, my actions looked more like binging and less like penance.

My second issue with the giving up things for Lent is that often we do these things for the sheer sake of doing them. We see them as an end instead of a means to an end. We think that grace and blessings will be bestowed upon us if we can just manage to suffer through 46 days without something. If we do that we succeed. But the intentions for Lent go far beyond pointless affliction.

Let's review the three disciplines about Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These are what will truly bring us closer to God, and our voluntary Lent disciplines, or the things we give up, are supposed to help in that. They are meant to be the means to then end, the vessel through which we come to the three main disciplines. If we are point A, and prayer, fasting, and almsgiving is point C, those chosen sacrifices are point B. But far too often point B is where we stop. But if we're honest with ourselves how often do we sacrifice TV and then use that spare time for prayer with God? How often do we put a little more in the collection basket because we've given up that morning Starbucks coffee? How often does our sacrifice of sweets lead us to recognize the value of fasting at times other than at the end of dinner? See, for years I gave up Facebook. In fact, ever since I've had a Facebook, I've given it up for Lent (I know this because my Timehop has been empty lately) but I realized at the end of last Lent, that while I had given up Facebook, I had also unconsciously filled up that time with other activities that didn't include prayer. Those "point B" sacrifices didn't work for me, they didn't lead me to anything more and if you find yourself in a similar situation, maybe you should consider giving up voluntary sacrifices for Lent and find something that works for you.

To clarify, I do abstain from meat on Fridays and fast during the required days and incorporate voluntary practices during Lent to grow spiritually and closer to God. However, I take a different approach to those voluntary practices that work better for me such as focusing on enhancing the heavenly virtue that corresponds to the deadly sin which I struggle with most. For instance, I really struggle with the sin of sloth so instead of telling myself I'm going to give up naps or oversleeping to general laziness I tell myself I'm going to take up the heavenly virtue of diligence. I tell myself I'm going to go to daily Mass or I'm going to park a little further away so I can pray the Rosary while I walk to class. This positive reinforcement is more effective, psychologically speaking, than negative reinforcement so I was not surprised to find myself reaping more spiritual benefits during this Lenten season than previous ones.

If you find yourself lacking zeal around Easter, if you find that your Lenten season doesn't differ that much from the rest of your life any other time of the year, maybe it's time to reevaluate your paschal preparations and explore different ways to reconnect with God and his Son, Jesus Christ.