A few days ago, I was thumbing through the Lenten Prefaces in the Missal (I know, I know--get a life) and came across the words where we “thank God for this joyful season.” Honestly, we really don’t often think of Lent as a joyful season, but rather one of denial, mortification, spreading ashes on our oatmeal, and burlap underwear. When was the last time you wished someone “Happy Lent” in the same way we say Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah or Happy Easter? The three major disciplines of Lent: prayer, fasting and alms giving help to focus attention, not on ourselves, but on the good and well-being of others and thus lead us to an empty tomb and Resurrection in the Lord. Lent is much more than “giving up.” Someone once remarked: “… to give up steak for lobster misses the point.”
Maybe this Lent is our time to slow the pace down: to step back and spend some time in reflection, spiritual reading, meditation, a quiet Eucharistic visit or some other carefully chosen, longed-for activity. Pray a little more; pray a little more often.