Time just flies by, doesn’t it? It seems like my life gets more busy with each passing day. I’m not complaining. I would rather be busy than bored. But, I couldn’t believe it the other day when I realized that we are already at the halfway mark for this Lenten season!
There are tons of great resources to reflect on the purpose and meaning of Lent (My friend Jonathan wrote a great reflection on Lent that you should really check out), so I don’t think I need to add anything to what has already been said. But, I think something weird happens around this halfway point. I don’t know if you are anything like me, but I usually try to fire myself up for the start of Lent; and, for the first couple of weeks, things go decently well. The fasting and abstaining are difficult, but I manage to get through it and it usually makes me feel closer to God (which is the point, right?). But I’ve started to realize that around this time I get somewhat comfortable with my fasting. The sacrifices become a bit more standard and I find myself easing into a “Lenten routine”. I still manage to practice my Lenten observance but soon it is more mechanical than prayerful, and that closeness to God begins to fade away.
No meat on Fridays? Not a problem, I’ll get a cheese pizza.
Gave up candy? I’ll just eat an apple, it’s healthier anyway.
Not watching TV? I don’t even miss it anymore.
I’m not saying there is anything bad with eating cheese pizza in place of meat on a Friday, or having an energy drink to substitute for a coffee when you need a pick-me-up. However, I think there is a tendency to fall into a complacency where we begin to focus more on keeping our Lenten observance than on the true purpose behind them. It reminds me a bit of the story of Martha and Mary from the Gospel of Luke.
As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary (who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10: 38-42.
Easter is just a few short weeks away and, to be honest, there are days when I am just counting down until I can go back to drinking that sweet, sweet nectar called Starbucks Coffee. But we need to keep in mind the purpose of Lent and the goal of our sacrifice. At this point, are you more like Martha or Mary? Are you more focused on the sacrifice, or are you sitting and drawing nearer to Christ?
I hope and pray that we can find the grace to be like Mary for the remainder of this Lenten season.
