The first question of Lent…

For the thirty plus years of my priesthood, I have been using the same tired joke that always gets a laugh. When asked: “What are you giving up for Lent, Father?” my response has been the same. With a dead pan face I say one word. “Celibacy.” …Though sometimes the pause is a bit longer than I would like, the response is always laughter, as I hoped it would be.

I do have to say, though, that there has been a shift in my understanding of this season away from asking that question first. The focus is not necessarily: “What am I going to give up for Lent?” nor even: “What am I going to choose for Lent?” Rather, my preparation begins with two more foundational questions. First, “What do I need (in my life) this Lent?” The second is like it. “What is missing from my life that needs to be there for me to be a more faithful disciple?”

Those are radically different starting places than that traditional question around the giving up something. The focus of both of these questions is the desire for wholeness and holiness of life before God. And though the answers I give might indeed lead me to those tradi-tional practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, that is not necessarily a foregone conclusion. “Holiness is not measured by the scale of our deprivation, but by the fullness of our life in Christ.” (Jerry Welte – All Saints Press, 2015) Once I can give voice to those deeper needs in my soul, then finding the practice and disci-pline that helps me to get there becomes much easier.

So, one of my Lenten choices is to watch the movie “UP”, a Disney Film. Another is to return to the gym/my stationary bike at least 4 days out of every week. A third is to connect on a weekly basis either in person or by phone to my three best friends. Though these are not your typical starting places for Lent, I know they will root ME in some of the practices that will enhance my life in Christ. And that will be a very good thing.

So, as we begin this great season of Lent, perhaps the most important question is not “What will you do?” but rather “Where will you start?” Any of the questions above will serve you well in this endeavor to greater ho-liness. But, if, for some reason, none of them do, then simply post this quote on your bathroom mirror and think about it each day for these next 40 days. “There is so much indifference in the face of suffering. May we overcome indifference with concrete acts of charity”. – Pope Francis