7 Things Not to Do For Lent

cross, crucifix, Jesus, crucifixion, lent

Lent is a time of spiritual self-discovery, renewal, and an invitation to find God’s will for us. Through sacrifice, prayer, and alms-giving we are looking to join Jesus in the desert – finding a purer form of ourselves. There are as many opportunities for Lenten self-improvement as there are individual souls. As we enter the second week of Lent, however, we might want to take a look at our intentions and the desired effect on our lives. Are our objectives pure? Do we have the proper mindset to make this Lent a life-altering experience?

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

In keeping with the hope of a fruitful Lent, we might consider this list of seven snares to avoid:

  1. Don’t use Lent as a weight loss regimen – Abstaining from delicacies we savor can be a worthy discipline to practice. While better care of the temple which is our body is admirable, selfishly looking for a vanity-based outcome can detract (or eliminate) the purity of our sacrifice. Instead, emptying ourselves and refraining from creature comforts, should make more room for God in our lives.
  2. Don’t focus solely on self – We are called to improve our relationship with God during Lent. An important aspect of the disciplines we practice is to be closer to Him. A pertinent offshoot of applying this objective is to bring the love of Christ to others. We do this through our actions toward them. If we selfishly withdraw without giving thought to being a light to others, we diminish a positive aspect of our call to Lenten love. A virtuous alternative would be to allow true charity to bring us closer to those around us.
  3. Don’t be rigid in our intentions –If we find that our spiritual needs take on a divergent direction, we shouldn’t be afraid to redirect our efforts as the Holy Spirit dictates. One of the purposes of Lent is to grow in our faith life and to transform our everyday interaction with God and others. Sometimes our needs or the opportunities to serve God through others present themselves in a variety of ways. Altering course and flexibility, then, become a benefit to our Lenten growth.
  4. Don’t hold up impossible standards – Setting ourselves up with too many strict aspirations may have the effect of needless failure. It’s better to achieve a limited number of things well, than it is to aspire to an unrealistic number of goals all at once. A helpful point to keep in mind, if we fall into this trap, is that each day brings a fresh start. Although it may be admirable to strive for sainthood, we must take our human nature into account. When we fail, are we willing to pick ourselves up and start anew?
  5. Don’t fail to convert your intentions into a positive outcomes – Simply doing without isn’t a worthy goal. When we empty ourselves of creature comforts, spiritual growth should take their place. Lent is not simply a time to test our willpower; it’s a time to become more holy in our emulation of the earthly, human life of Jesus. We are given an opportunity to grow closer to Him.
  6. Don’t simply do without for the sake of doing without. We need to add more God into our lives. As we contemplate sacrifice, prayer, and charity during the Lenten season, we should ask God what He thinks we should do – what does He want from us? We should have a purpose for our sacrifices.
  7. Don’t make your Lenten intentions something temporary – Lent is a time of making enduring progress in our lives – both spiritually and in regard to neighbor. It’s not a time to hold our breath until Lent is over, only to go back to being the same person we were before it began. Allow Lent to bring a richness to your spiritual growth and relationship to God through others.

Each of these seven don’ts have a constructive alternative. If we aim for improvement, using a sincere desire to challenge ourselves and to better our lives, we will certainly find a way to achieve our objectives. May we all experience a happy and productive Lent!

“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

7 thoughts on “7 Things Not to Do For Lent”

    1. I think the don’t go on a diet thing because it is just vanity is a bit rigid. Some people need to go on a diet because they are pre diabetic or their health is in danger in some other way and they might be following a doctor’s orders. I think it is narrow minded to assume all people go on a diet for some shallow reason of vanity. There is nothing wrong with doing something to improve your health and I think going on a diet is very appropriate for many people just as giving up smoking is also very appropriate. And while at it, why not give up smoking forever and follow a healthy diet for the rest of one’s life.

  1. Of all the problems in the world….Catholics being to hard on themselves, being to moral, fasting to much are not even on the list.

    At our parish fish fry on Friday night (as i had my shrimp and cod ) I heard a young Catholic admit at our table he gave up chocolate for lent (as he had a large piece of cherry pie for dessert) and he was roundly hailed and praised for his great and amazing ability to fast and do penance.

  2. the best for last. Over the years, I have tested my willpower. Benefitted greatly (I think) in teaching myself that I couldn’t have what I want, when I want it. Then I celebrate the octave of easter and don’t usually stop until Lent comes around again.

  3. Pingback: SATURDAY EDITION - BigPulpit.com

  4. Excellent post! I know it’s often tempting to look at Lent like a New Year’s resolution–especially when it comes to fasting. Thanks for putting it so well.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.