Often the real challenge or the real sacrifice that we face during Lent is how we treat others. This is a challenge everyday but during Lent it is complicated by feelings of fatigue, anxiety, or hunger that come as a result of our self-imposed penance and/or fasting.
The real challenge comes not when we fast for the entire day but when we must be charitable through our suffering. It is easy to not eat. It is difficult to speak kindly to family, friends, and co-workers when not eating makes us uneasy or gives us a headache. We may find it easy to give up coffee during Lent. That's a grace. However, it can be difficult to keep our attitude in check when little thorns in the side appear at just the wrong time - when the kids seem ridiculously loud, the boss seems overly demanding, or the co-worker appears to have brought out every annoying habit he has just for you!
It is during these times that grace is poured out upon us. It is also during these times when the devil launches some of his most vicious attacks. He tempts us into thinking that since we are doing something "holy" like fasting we have the "right" to a short temper. He twists our thinking and skews our charity.
We begin to think like this - "
My head hurts from not having coffee for three days so these little brats better step back or they are going to get it. Don't they know it's Lent and I'm doing this for God."
I would venture to say that it is here where the graces won are lost. The lesson God is teaching, goes unlearned. The devil really wins the battle when we begin think, "
wow, it would be better if I didn't fast so I wasn't so uncharitable towards my family. Fasting makes me angry and unpleasant. I don't feel like I'm growing in holiness. I won't be fasting again." If this is our path, Satan wins the battle.
However, if we can train ourselves to pause, recognize what's happening, and pray for the extra grace, things could go much differently,
"wow, is my boss really being an overly demanding jerk today or am I just out of sorts from no coffee and fasting? Lord, give me the grace to be kind and overcome the temptation to lash out. Help me to be charitable even in my suffering."
These times of trial are great opportunities to go the extra mile. They are
privileged chances to imitate Christ more fully who, even in the midst of His suffering, was charitable (Luke 23:27-31) and even prayed for those who were causing Him pain (Luke 23:34).
Our Lenten sacrifices are a great way to show our love for God. God, in His
infinite mercy and love, gives us another opportunity to love Him in and through our neighbor by placing them there when we are suffering upon our cross. He gives us the opportunity, in the midst of suffering, to fulfill the two great
commandments. For "i
f anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21) We might add that he must love God and his brother, even when he doesn't
feel like it, maybe especially when he doesn't feel like it.
Click here for some great Lenten reading suggestions.
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