Pettiness of Lent

‘Are you keeping the Lent?’ ‘What have you given up for Lent?’ Queries such as these will be in the air during these couple of weeks. I have also been enquired about my own Lenten observances. Most often, I am inclined not to tell about my own Lenten observances, merely because what my left hand does my right hand must know. I am of the belief that, God will see it what you do in quiet. 

A religious person might tell, ‘we need to prepare spiritually, or an inner preparation is significant than an external preparation. In other words, one needs to prepare the spirit not only body. A dietician might propose that this is the time to keep the diet in view of Lent so that one can be healthy. An alcoholic might think, I shall stay away from alcohol for this season. There might be myriad ways of keeping the Lent. This way, Lent might be a means to achieve something concrete. Our minds and hearts can be focused to achieve that one thing we have set out to do. At the end of it, a person can grow spiritually and bodily. A person can achieve spiritual bliss through bodily discipline. There needs to an incentive to do better in life. 

One has to be cautious about the pettiness that will become a jargon for Lent. Keeping Lent or doing penance (bodily or spirit) without conviction is pouring water on the duck back. It can be show to the gallery, if it is not done properly. There was a Catholic who gave up non-vegetarian as part of his Lenten observance but he intention (conviction) was to maintain his body figure. Another person gave up alcohol in order to impress his wife and children. This is all good, but I call it pettiness of Lent. Every one of us must ask a question, what am I doing what I am doing? Jesus had to point out to the Pharisees and Scribes about their human traditions of washing hands and cups before they ate. Jesus says to them, ‘you put aside the commandments of God and cling to human traditions.’ Those of us observing this Lent with penance, let us ask ourselves why am I doing it? Probably you have already been convinced that the penance will help one to prepare spiritually and hence, there is a holistic growth of oneself. 

Ash Wednesday liturgy proposes three things, firstly, when you give alms, don’t trumpet but do it in secret, secondly, when you pray, pray in secret to the Father who knows you, thirdly, when you fast, let no one know except the Father in heaven. This way Jesus shows how we must keep our own observances secret so that Father in heaven can reward us. Jesus points to the people about pettiness that people adore. 

Let this Lent be a time of grace, healing and reconciliation. If one has gone away from the Lord and His grace, it is the time to return. One can return in his/her own way, namely, through confession, reconciliation, keeping Lent, giving up meat, giving up habits, and so on. I urge you, whatever way that bring you back to his grace, healing and reconciliation, follow it boldly because God knows what you are seeking during this Lent. God will reward your penance but make sure you do it with conviction of right intention. Don’t limit Lent to mere some physical or spiritual observances, but make Lent as time to prepare to glorify the Lord at the resurrection. The resurrection is our achievement and not preparation alone. Hence, I am doing what I am doing is for the resurrection of the Lord. I would like to wish you a good Lent. May God bless you during this Lent.