As a Catholic in the beginning of the Lenten season, I’ve been asked what I’m giving up for Lent and have heard other Christians discussing the same thing. Common themes of what people are giving up include social media and indulgent foods. People do these things to make a sacrifice, and while giving up Instagram and chocolate is a great challenge for many people, they may not be things we should be giving up for Lent. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud the efforts of people who do successfully give up these things for Lent. I’m not telling people what they should and shouldn’t be doing in terms of their religious beliefs and practices, because I have no business doing so. What I have noticed, however, is that there often isn’t much spiritual benefit acquired from sacrifices like those. Sure, it takes willpower to refuse a Kit-Kat bar, and people may pray for the strength they need to continue with their sacrifices. All of this is good, and again, it is not my place to judge, but perhaps we as Christians should be doing less “giving up” of material goods and more giving of ourselves to others and to God.
Pope Francis wrote in his annual Lenten message, “Indifference to our neighbor and to God represents a real temptation for us Christians.” The things that tempt us to stray from our beliefs aren’t necessarily food and social media; they are feelings of indifference, hatred, or simply the absence of love towards others. Pope Francis also said, “Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to good fades.” When we fast by giving up material things that we shouldn’t need to begin with, we aren’t necessarily fasting for a meaningful purpose. Why place the focus on giving up the things you love instead of showing love towards others and towards God?
Throughout our daily lives, we can all be a bit selfish and indifferent. We’re not perfect people, and we never will be. However, maybe this Lenten season, we as Christians should focus on becoming better people. This can include praying more, giving to the poor, or simply expressing more love, care, and compassion towards other people. We should focus on what we can do for others, not just what we can do for ourselves. Spending more time on prayer, helping the poor, or being kind to others is far more valuable spiritually than giving up desserts and Facebook. It’s great to make sacrifices, but this Lenten season, we should also focus on showing others the love that God consistently shows us. We as Christians should aim to become closer to God and more like Him in every way we can – that’s what Lent is truly about.
