The Three Toughest Things About Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

Lent is great.  It really is.  It’s the time of year when God backs up the truck and dumps down the motherlode of grace on this pitifully weak and needy pile of human flesh (me). And let me tell you, I can use all the help I can get, what with all the stuff we as good practicing Catholics are supposed to do for forty long, grueling days. 

I’ve made it over the hump in another Lenten whirlwind and as I reflect on the struggles, I have whittled down the list of impossible obstacles to a final victory to what I deem the three toughest things about Lent.  And they are, of course, the only requirements of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. 

I guess the least difficult for me is praying.  What is prayer at its core?  It is dialog, talking or communication with God.  Talking?  I have no problem with talking.  I can talk circles around most anyone, just ask my husband; he will heartily agree.  But the listening part?  Well, maybe I need a little more work on that one.  Turning off the head noise and tuning in to that soft, still Voice can be the challenge.  The best remedy for that hands down is time with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament. 

No question.  Maybe you’ve heard of the spiritual benefits of Eucharistic Adoration and partook, but if you haven’t, I can’t begin to tell you how life-changing it is.  Spending time with Jesus, one on One is the best thing I can do if I want the fast track to holiness.  I am not kidding.  Of course, this stupid pandemic is making that difficult as churches are closed a lot of the time right now.  It’s incredible how easy it is to get off course and let go of the Pearl of Greatest Value when faced with the little roadblocks of life.  But let’s do this! It is not too late.  Let’s recommit to this essential thing: time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  He wants to give us everything!  All we must do is get up off our butts and go.  Ask the Blessed Mother to pick you up and carry you there.  She will. 

The second tough thing about Lent is something I have a strong aversion to: giving up stuff.  I like to eat food!  Especially chocolate food.  And ain’t it always the way, when someone says you can’t have it, boy, that’s when you want it even more.  But there is spiritual growth in resisting a little life-sustaining sustenance.  Mastering the whims of my body in a world full of pleasure-seeking is a tough one.  Oh, but what value to my soul!  We must be in the world, but not of the world and for the rest of my life, I will be fighting this battle.  It isn’t just a Lenten thing; it is an eternal life thing.  Everyday, a thousand times a day, I must master my mind and my body and choose the rocky trail. 

How can I possibly do this?  On my own it is impossible.  It really is.  That’s why I must be glued to Jesus!  I must hide myself in His Sacred Heart, letting go of my will, and seeking His will for me.  This.  This is the goal, and it can, unfortunately, only happen when I give up chocolate from time to time.  Well, not exactly that, but you get the idea.  It isn’t a one and done.  It is a whole life changed and it begins with letting go of the little comforts and uniting those crosses to Christ.  It, He, is the only way. 

And then there’s almsgiving. Yowch.  This is a two-fold toughie.  Not only am I supposed to be selfless, but I’m also required to trust!  I struggle in both areas.  I live under the delusion that all the stuff I have accumulated is mine, and of my own making, and that I must cling to it, so I don’t become destitute.  Hilarious. 

I know, at the core, God is not asking me to pull a St. John the Baptist, giving all to the poor except my camelhair robe, jar of honey, and locust collection and go live in a cave somewhere.  But I do need to pause, take a serious, sobering look at some selfish habits I’ve let develop and make an attitude adjustment.  It starts with confession.  Thank God for confession!  Lent is the time to take the blinders off and see.  I need to see myself more clearly, as God sees me.  Of course, I can’t do any of this alone.  I need to talk to God, and listen…

Jesus!  How grateful I am for Lent and the opportunity to rend my whole heart.  You know my weakness.  Forgive me, Jesus, for the times I don’t listen, for my complacency, and my selfishness.  Please, first help me let go of the reins of control that I might trust You in all things.  Create a clean heart in me, Lord, one that is glued to You, and delights in giving what was freely given to me.  I want to be all Yours, Jesus, in all the areas of my life.  From praying, to fasting, to almsgiving.  Help me to let go of all the things that keep me from complete union with You.  Because, only united in Your Heart will I find true joy and a life worth living.