Rises up from an empty grave
Ain’t no sinner that He can’t save
Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus
His love is strong and His grace is free
And the good news is I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me
Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus And let my Jesus change your life
Matthew 6:16
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you”.
Growing up Catholic
It is wonderfully beautiful to share this season with all Catholics, anyone in faith, and all those interested in the traditions of lent.
Going from observing my parents and family and what this time means to them, to then applying that to my life over the years has been quite the journey in and of itself.
Oddly enough although my Papi would always give up beer, my Mami would instead do more of something in the name of Christ.
I never got a clear answer on what that something was, but how it is equally special. Fortunately for me, I was exposed to the importance of both sacrifice and offering at a young age.
I Used to be So Good at Lent
The lent season for me, was a time to exercise serious discipline. It’s a time of repentance, self-awareness, and preparing yourself for the blessings of Easter. So, I would really plan what I was going to give up, and really stick with it.
For the most part, I would give up unhealthy food at different extremes as I got older since I was getting better and better at it.
Giving up food was important to me since I’ve always had an unhealthy relationship with food. It was and still is a vice that has a strong hold on me. Hi, my name is Doña Monica, and I am an emotional eater. So, I would give up fast food or sweets and progress to becoming vegan for the 40 days and nights throughout the years.
Through this, I really felt like I was gaining a better control of my life in this sacrifice, meanwhile getting closer to God through my discipline.
Yet the arguer would naturally come out of me as I would try my darndest to rationalize being able to eat certain foods. Weeeeel if I get a burger without the buns and get all the veggies, it’s a healthier option. Or, if I make a cake out of dark chocolate (which is healthy for you) and use clean ingredients, then I can eat that. Does that defeat the purpose? Or am I still doing good because I’m making better/cleaner choices? I wonder how many Catholics do this during lent? Is this normal? Am I a bad Catholic for doing this?
What to “Give Up” or do More of
The whole purpose of giving something up or doing more of something, is to get closer to God.
You want to ask yourself the question, what has a hold on you? What is something you feel like you can’t live without? Because if you are so tied to something worldly, something you crave and have to have, that’s something that has a hold on you. To give something like that up, to sacrifice that “something”, brings you closer to God.
To walk in faith is to always choose God in all that you do. Do we do that all day every day? No, intentionally and unintentionally. My God is an awesome, so let me tell you about my Jesus. You see, He died on the cross for our sins and forgives us as we learn how to choose Him in our decisions in life. Although it may pain us to give up something we love at the moment, as a believer, choosing God over the pleasures in the world is nothing compared to what our gains will be in Heaven, and then some. Far more than we can ever imagine.
So, if your heart is calling you to do more of something, listen to it. What can you do more of to bring you closer to God? Go to church more, pray often, volunteer, be more mindful in your daily decision making. It’s something as simple as how you treat someone who cut you off while you’re driving. Instead of cussing them out in your car or flipping them off, give them the grace and let it go. I suggest this as I did this just yesterday 🙈. And when I caught myself doing it, man did I feel humbled.
No Meat Days
As Catholics, we take our no meat days very seriously. We abstain from eating meat, especially red meat, as it represents the body and blood of Christ and His vulnerability during the 40 days and nights of His fasting.
Have you seen all the memes, gifs, and reels making fun of Catholics during lent? “Oh, so you won’t eat meat on Fridays, but you will lie in sin with your mans?”. I mean this is a little judgy on their part, no? But, very true. Judge the sin and not the sinner yall.
The lengths we go through to not eat meat on Holy days is like a ritual on its own. Families and friends literally calling and texting each other every Holy day of abstinence to remind each other not to eat meat, is personally a highlight in my life.
Not to mention to the times we absentmindedly eat meat. The guilt we that hits us when we realize what we did. That tingly, breathless, oooooh noooooo, drop in your stomach. I mean I have literally spit out my food when I realized it had meat in it.
Your Needs, Values, and Sacrifices Will Change Throughout the Years
Lent is a time of spiritual reconnection. Throughout the years my perspective has changed. My life experiences have led me to look at it with new eyes as I’ve gotten older, which should be expected. It’s such a beautiful part of your spiritual journey if you really look at it. How far God has brought you and how your relationship has matured with your Father.
Being “Good at Lent” was Never the Point
The reality is serious discipline for anything in life that betters you as a person should be exercised not just for the 40 days and nights that Jesus suffered His own temptations. During the start of lent, the purpose usually feels stronger for me. I’m going to see this all the way through no matter how hard it gets. I’m doing this for God. To be closer to him.
Yet, as the time goes on, doubt and temptation set in. As I look back on it, what was supposed to bring me closer to God through discipline, brought me to humanizing my own decisions on the extent of what to give up. The “what about this”, “weeeell”, “it’s okay if”, falling into that temptation trap. Yes, I was good at lent in the sense of giving up worldly things that had a hold on me, but I was also good at justifying indulging in the same things in a different way.
So, am I following through as I should? Well now, isn’t that just the beauty of this all? Easter is about my Jesus dying ono the cross for my sins. Including sins that I justify. Your walk with Christ is nobody else’s business. Regardless of what you give up or don’t give up, do or not do, justify kind of giving up, or even fail at giving up altogether, that’s between you and God. It is your walk in life, learning what temptation looks like for you and how to overcome it in His name.
What have you given up or done more of during lent? Share them with me below!