I recall several years ago hearing a Presbyterian friend say, "I don't do Lent." I gave what he said a great deal of thought. It wasn't that I had any second thoughts about Lent for myself, just only that I wondered what was at the heart of his objection.
It had been only a few years in the past that a close friend, an Evangelical with whom I was acquainted at the time I went through RCIA, had tried her best to convince me that there was something "wrong" with observing Lent--especially the observance of Ash Wednesday, which for some reason bought the idea of shame to her mind. Of course I have remained unmoved by any arguments against my annual observation of the season. Still I have to admit that Lent has been the most difficult of Catholic practices for me to get the hang of.
What I have done and continue to do each year is to put some reflection into the practice of preparing for Lent, and now that it's here I thought I'd share a few thoughts with you--nothing too theologically deep this time, just a few thoughts that I recently jotted down.
Foremost, I believe that the observance of Lent is actually a discipline, thus my difficulty in getting used to "doing Lent." Like many people discipline is not what I would choose first from the top 10 list of spiritual activities. However, the Lord calls us to strengthen the discipleship by which we live.
In order to serve God in a pleasing manner we must learn to trust. So first, I reflect on the season of Lent as a time to strengthen the discipline of security. Trust goes hand in hand with having faith, thus a fitting daily Lenten prayer or meditation might be, "Strengthen my faith O Lord, strengthen my trust." We need never fear seeking greater faith. Our Lord answers us in the most amazing ways. God will send into our lives exactly what we need most.
Of course there are other aspects of the discipline of Lent that I'd like to share with you, but rather than share them all right now I'll let them unfold naturally. So my first reflection is on trust--on being secure in the Lord. It's really a big deal for most of us. I'd be a liar if I said that I never have security issues. However, having a discipline about security makes it possible for God to be the master over those things that are the source of our insecurities. It's not that we gain security in ourselves but that we learn to allow God's light to illuminate the darkness of our doubt.
More to come.
deacon dan, you are expressing this in a way that I have never really heard before, and giving me much to think about.
Something else that either I never knew, had forgotten, or that just never sank in is that Lent is a time for us to reflect on, and try to renew, our Baptismal vows (?). Three times in quick succession just before Ash Wednesday I heard this, and it really struck me. I'm wondering if this is something the Lord is trying to get me to notice this year, and I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on it sometime during Lent, if it is part of what might "unfold naturally" in your Lenten posts. Thanks if you can.
Posted by: Gabrielle | February 22, 2007 at 09:16 AM
I find my approach and involvement in 'doing' Lent varies from year to year. One of the best things for me is to get one of the Little Black Books and let it guide my daily prayer.
Posted by: Steve Bogner | February 25, 2007 at 02:28 PM
Thanks Steve, I don't know that the Little Black Book is all that available in my part of the world. I found some things about it on Google, but to be honest this is first time that I have really heard about it. Can you provide a good link or some other information on the Little Black Book?
Posted by: Deacon DW | February 25, 2007 at 09:38 PM
Dan, you can order them from https://secure.saginaw.org/orderform.php (the Diocese of Saginaw, MI puts them out, I believe). Here in Cincinnati, and in my former town of Tulsa, all the parishes order a bunch and give them out on Ash Wednesday & the Sunday before & after. I wish they had an online version, but so far it's only in print.
This came from my 'Lenten Sites' links on my blog - there are some other good ones there too that you might find useful.
Posted by: Steve Bogner | February 26, 2007 at 05:32 AM