We are now in the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday has come and gone. We have decided on what we are doing this year. What we are adding to our schedules, and what we are taking away. As I was preparing for Lent this year, one thought kept showing up in articles I had read, in my conversations with other Catholics, and it kept popping up in my head. Why?
Why have you chosen to give up chocolate this year? Why have you decided to work out for 15 minutes a day? Why have you decided to attend morning Mass every day? Why have you decided to pray the rosary daily? Why have we chosen the things that we have? How will they lead us closer to Jesus?
Have we chosen these things because they are easy? Have we chosen them because “it’s what I’ve always done?” Have we chosen them because we want to appear to be a good, holy Catholic? Have we chosen them because we need the motivation to do these things, and Lent is the perfect time to do that?
Have we chosen these things because we need to learn how to say no to the world, and yes to Jesus? Have we chosen them to love those around us as God calls us to love? Have we chosen these things because we desire to grow closer to Christ over the next 40 days? Have we chosen them because we want to unite our suffering to that of Christ?
No matter what you have chosen to do this Lent, take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions. Why did you choose that thing? Is there something else you should be doing? How will it draw you closer to God? Is this really what God is calling you to do? Let God guide you this Lent!
~ Noëlle, Youth Ministry Coordinator
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