A number of people have asked me for the list of four points that I made in my Sunday Homily yesterday about the qualities of a good Lenten discipline or commitment. So I thought I would share them here:
Regardless of what you "give up" (sacrifice) or "take on" (spiritual exercises, works of charity) for Lent, these are some considerations.
1. The most important question is "How will this Lenten discipline or commitment help me grow in my relationship with Jesus?"? (in many ways this is the ONLY consideration, as this is the real point of Lenten disciplines). You should at least be able to articulate the answer to that question to yourself.
2. Your Lenten discipline(s) should be secret. It is between you and God and is none of anyone else's business (see Matt 6:1-18, the Gospel Reading for Ash Wednesday). It is rude to ask someone what they have given up for Lent. One possible exception - you share your Lenten disciple with someone so they can help hold you accountable.
3. Lenten work is INTERNAL WORK, not external - even is we choose some external Lenten Committment (e.g. serving the poor), it is still about allowing God to sculpt our hearts to be more like his. 40 days of reflection on your discipline is the only way for it to accomplish this goal.
4. Your Lenten discipline should lead you to JOY. If you are going to complain about it for 40 days, you might as well not do it. Even sacrifice and abstinence can (and should) be joyfully undertaken. The Church REQUIRES very little of us. Our Lenten disciplines are voluntary and should be undertaken in a spirit of real joy.
Hope this is help for a Holy Lent.
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