Lent is a time for believing, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing him to “make his dwelling” among us (cf. Jn 14:23). Fasting involves being freed from all that weighs us down – like consumerism or an excess of information, whether true or false – in order to open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us, poor in all things, yet “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14): the Son of God our Savior. – From Pope Francis’ Lenten Message
Long before there was CNN and a national 24/7 news cycle there was KYW News radio in Philly. It is still the best local 24/7 news source. But it turned me into a news junkie at a very early age. So, the Holy Father’s suggestion of fasting from “an excess of information, whether true or false” -- hits me in my addiction. I am not going to try to go cold turkey, but I can fast from some of my news sources, especially my bad habit of turning on cable news in the middle of the night.
By now, the first Sunday of Lent, Catholics who desire an intimate relationship with Jesus hopefully have settled on a Lenten practice or two. How are we trying “to open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us?” If you are somewhat clueless as to how to deepen your spiritual life, going back to the basics is probably a good place to begin.
K.I.S.S. is a good acronym for Lent. Keep • It • Simple • Sinner. The best Lent is one in which we enter the season wholeheartedly. All too often, people either take on too much or don’t take on enough. The solution is to simplify our disciplines and concentrate more clearly on our spiritual goals.
To keep it simple this Lent, try one add-in and one give-up and make a good confession (more about that in my Tuesday notes). Add one positive activity that will deepen your prayer and spiritual life (especially if you think you are too busy to put anything more into an impossibly busy schedule!). Deny yourself something you really like or are attached to.
One add-in Add one thing of God to your routine that you haven’t been doing. Because we are all so busy, it’s a good idea to not just pick an add-in, but to schedule a regular time when you put it on your calendar, so you don’t “forget.” Ideas for add-ins are pretty much endless, but some include:
Go to Mass in the middle of the week
Attend the Stations of the Cross
Read a Gospel or devotional
Volunteer cleaning the beach
Get up early to pray
Listen to a spiritual podcast
One give up Giving up something for Lent has been part of the Church almost since the beginning. While giving up sweets and alcohol are time-honored, consider giving up one thing that you really like or enjoy. It should lead to a greater gratitude for your blessings. Make it difficult but doable:
◗ Fast from fault finding and nagging, and fast from a critical tongue or a closed mind. ◗ Give up impulse purchases, perhaps only Amazon (it is a verb now) on Sunday. ◗ Give up an unhealthy habit, like watching cable news in the middle of the night. ◗ Limit the time you watch television or surf the Web. ◗ Give up eating out and donate the money you save.
Taking the Gospel Home: “He was among the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” What are the “wild beasts” in your life and in our world today? What angels minister to you? To whom do you yourself minister?