Can I Vent About Lent?

Last Wednesday, March 5th, marked the first day of Lent. Now this period in the Christian calendar begins with Ash Wednesday, it runs the 40 days that lead up to Easter Sunday and is a time that is traditionally set aside as a preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, atonement and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the New Testament, climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, and ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now those who know me, also know that I'm a Christian. I believe in practicing the faith and putting it into action. I believe in the prescribed traditions and adherence to the practices outlined above, though not a means to salvation, are an important spiritual discipline that can serve to enhance one's Christian walk.

Now I was raised Catholic and I'm quite familiar with the doctrines, traditions and expectations of the Catholic church. I never fully embraced the Catholic faith, but had, more or less, tolerated the dogmatic and rigid doctrines that were imposed on me by my parents. In fact, it caused me to lapse, for a period, into agnosticism or worse. I just can't follow a course of tradition that, to me are not logical and seemingly prods many devotees to the faith out of a sense of guilt and knee-jerk conditioning.

I'm trying desperately to communicate this in way that does not offend Catholics, but I fear that I'm not doing a very good job. I know many Catholics who are very devoted Christians. On the other hand, there are too many self proclaimed "Christians" who do not have the slightest inkling who Christ is, and what He stands for.

Proclaiming myself now to be a Christian might seem at first blush, a contradiction in terms, or even hypocritical, in light of my views on the Catholic church. A Christian is one who is follower of Christ. This is pretty plain and simple.  I believe that Jesus Christ is everything He says that He is... Son of God, creator of all that exists, He did physically defeat death and is our only means to eternal life. Am I sinner?  Absolutely. But I am covered by grace, and only through faith. Will I continue to sin? Absolutely - it is the unfortunate condition of a fallen world and a by-product of our human condition in these bodies we occupy.

My problem with Lent is all the chatter that I hear beginning on Ash Wednesday about what will be given up for the six week period. I've heard a lot of talk in the office and on the street about not eating meat, giving up sugar, television, coffee. I saw people proudly strutting around with ashes on their foreheads as a reminder that their present physical bodies are failing, that they came from dust and will hence return. I wonder...are they really considering this? I saw ashes being dispensed at the train station where I commute to Chicago every morning. Ashes on the go? Really?  I'm not saying that this can't be deeply meaningful and significant acts for some, but to many, it is simply the thing that you do if you're a "Good Catholic".  But what would Jesus say about all this?  I have a pretty good idea about that:

True fasting according to Isaiah 58:

The Lord says to them, “The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. ⁴ Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? ⁵ When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?
⁶ “The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. ⁷ Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.
⁸ “Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. ⁹ When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.
“If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; ¹⁰ if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. ¹¹ And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.


Or, if you want to give something up for Lent, here is a list of 20 things you might consider:

1. Guilt – I am loved by Jesus and he has forgiven my sins. Today is a new day and the past is behind.
2. Fear – God is on my side. In him I am more than a conqueror. (see Romans 8) 
3. The need to please everyone – I can’t please everyone anyways. There is only one I need to strive to please.
4. Envy – I am blessed. My value is not found in my possessions, but in my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
5. Impatience – God’s timing is the perfect timing.
6. Sense of entitlement – The world does not owe me anything. God does not owe me anything. I live in humility and grace.
7. Bitterness and Resentment – The only person I am hurting by holding on to these is myself.
8. Blame – I am not going to pass the buck. I will take responsibility for my actions.
9. Gossip and Negativity – I will put the best construction on everything when it comes to other people. I will also minimize my contact with people who are negative and toxic bringing other people down.
10. Comparison – I have my own unique contribution to make and there is no one else like me.
11. Fear of failure – You don’t succeed without experiencing failure. Just make sure you fail forward.
12. A spirit of poverty – Believe with God that there is always more than enough and never a lack
13. Feelings of unworthiness – You are fearfully and wonderfully made by your creator. (see Psalm 139)
14. Doubt – Believe God has a plan for you that is beyond anything you could imagine. The future is brighter than you could ever realize.
15. Self-pity – God comforts us in our sorrow so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
16. Retirement – As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason. You have a purpose to influence others for Christ. That does not come to an end until the day we die.
17. Excuses – A wise man once said, if you need an excuse, any excuse will do.
18. Lack of counsel – Wise decisions are rarely made in a vacuum.
19. Pride – Blessed are the humble.
20. Worry – God is in control and worrying will not help.