Let's make more resolutions good people of Israel! I certainly need more of those, because, oddly enough, I keep forgetting about the hundred more I made before.Lent is a time where we concentrate on our relationship with God, examine ourselves and see what is obstructing us from growing more in intimacy with Him.
It's also a great time for diets and countless temporary sacrifices that makes us miserable!
All kidding aside, Lent is not an opportunity to just make us better, lose weight or improve some areas in our lives. It is not about being self-absorbed in an ego-centric improvement track.
Lent is not about us, so let's get over ourselves.
Lent is more about our communal relationship with others and God. For if we grow in relationship with God we glorify God, and that should be our goal, glorifying God in everything that we do (1 Corinthian 10:31).
Yes, Lent is about preparation for the believer, and there is some sacrifice. But sacrifice is empty without love, and love impossible without intimacy. Sacrifice flows naturally, and dare I say many times sweetly, when is made out of love for God.
I remember when my sister came and visited us. She recently had her first baby. We took her to the mall to buy some clothes, and at one point she expressed "I can't believe this, but before I would get excited about buying clothes for myself, but now all I can think of is what to get for my little daughter".
This self-denial in her flowed naturally from her motherly love.
So let us plunge joyfully into this desert of yes, self denial, but more importantly, little acts of self giving love.
Here are my Lenten resolutions!
Eat Lent soup! What better way to celebrate and glorify this glorious season with some delicious, hot, and nutritious Lent soup? Screw fish! I'll have me some soup every Fridays.
No just kidding, here they are.
Receive communion a minimum of 3 times a week.
I know of no better way to have a more intimate connection with Christ than to receive His body and blood in the Eucharist. This should be no sacrifice at all, but a delight to partake of such precious meal.
Fast at least once a week.
Fasting not only showcases and makes tangible our need for God, for in our weakness and hunger we can fill our lives with Him, but it also connects us and increases our empathy for the poor, who can involuntarily go hungry for days.
Eat meat only twice a week.
Meat should be a luxury item in our diets, not an expected commodity. Besides the obvious health benefit of this, it is also a good way to care for creation, for the way meat is mass produced is certainly abusive.
So there they are! I will update regularly on how I'm doing with these resolutions. So what are your Lenten resolutions?
