Friday, February 8
Lent
Dear reader,
I'm going to put this up here since I haven't been doing it lately. Lent has started since Wednesday but I didn't go for Ash Wednesday mass seeing as the Holy Father gave the church in Asia permission to delay it till this Friday as most are having CNY celebrations. Singapore however still went through with Ash Wednesday and I wish Malaysia did too.
Anyway, its that time of the year to do penance and for Catholics and some Christians, abstaining from meat is a must. I'm vegetarian so basically, its no big deal. But for you, if you don't understand it, here's why.
SITUATION EXPLAINED
What factors guide your decisions in the course of the day?
SOLUTION OFFERED
Someone recently asked me, “Do you practice ABSTINENCE on Fridays during Lent?”
“I’m single…I practice abstinence (and chastity) every day.” I replied.
While I was being honest, the person asking didn’t get my joke. Incidentally, I know that it wasn’t that funny, it still made me laugh (not difficult to do).
Abstinence from meat is more than “going without” or a “reminder” of the fact that Christ offered His flesh for us on the cross. Abstinence is a form of prayer, a discipline, and a focus on Christ and on our souls, rather than on self and on our own bodies. It is faith in action – placing our attention on Jesus and offering Him “our flesh” as a sacrifice, a vessel through which He can (and does) work (Romans 12).
Abstinence from meat, from drugs, from alcohol, from premarital sex…really from anything that might, can and/or does take our attention away from God is a wonderful blessing. It is an example of how our souls can lead our bodies, how we can make our flesh a slave to our spirit. That is what St. Paul is talking about in this passage from Romans today.
A single person continually choosing to live chastity, abstaining from premarital sex, is a beautiful example of their soul driving their flesh, and not vice versa. Likewise, even simpler, smaller gestures of “going without” meat on a Friday (for instance) is a great instance of sacrifice and love that God rewards with immeasurable grace.
When you “can’t have something” is obviously when it becomes all the more appealing.
It began in the Garden of Eden and has never stopped…for we are the brats of God.
Premarital sex is even more appealing to “un-marrieds” because it is wrong.
Snacking between meals seems even more desirable, when you’re fasting.
Abstaining from meat might seem almost impossible, when “forced” to do it.
Those moments of “difficulty” or “temptation” don’t have to lead to frustration or downfall, though. Not if we are aware. Not if we pray. Not if we refuse, in those moments, to allow our bodies and minds to dictate the actions of our souls. Our souls are gifted to us by God, designed to praise and bless, and are filled with power. The two are completely and intimately intertwined, but that doesn’t mean that one can’t “take the lead” on the dance floor of life. Your soul can control your body and make it a slave.
The first idea – pray. Use times like Lent to recognize and realize areas and moments in your life when your body leads your soul into dangerous waters. Identify them, ask God for help, and eliminate them.
A second idea - remember the acronym “B.A.T.H.S.” It stands for “bored, angry, tired, hungry and stressed”. What it means is that if you are any of the five, don’t allow yourself to make important decisions and be aware that in those situations, you are even more vulnerable to temptation and sin. Don’t allow yourself to become a slave to your emotions.
Jesus experienced the same types of emotions that you do, daily. When faced with those emotions (and with emotions far more intense, like in the Garden of Gethsemane), He prayed. THAT is faith in action.
Lent is a time to “step it up”. It is a SPRING TRAINING for the soul. It is a spiritual workout. It is a gift. Don’t “abstain” from the discipline, growth and grace that await you during this season. Don’t let a moment of weakness or struggle dictate your future, and don’t let a mistake become a tradition. When you fall, admit it, reconcile it and move on.
Everyone might not have rhythm, but thanks to God we all have SOUL.
SALVATION GIVEN
“…you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. For just as you presented your bodies as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, so now present them as slaves to righteousness...” – Romans 6:11-12, 19
Jesus carrying the cross…there is an example of a soul driving the body…
I'm going to put this up here since I haven't been doing it lately. Lent has started since Wednesday but I didn't go for Ash Wednesday mass seeing as the Holy Father gave the church in Asia permission to delay it till this Friday as most are having CNY celebrations. Singapore however still went through with Ash Wednesday and I wish Malaysia did too.
Anyway, its that time of the year to do penance and for Catholics and some Christians, abstaining from meat is a must. I'm vegetarian so basically, its no big deal. But for you, if you don't understand it, here's why.
SITUATION EXPLAINED
What factors guide your decisions in the course of the day?
SOLUTION OFFERED
Someone recently asked me, “Do you practice ABSTINENCE on Fridays during Lent?”
“I’m single…I practice abstinence (and chastity) every day.” I replied.
While I was being honest, the person asking didn’t get my joke. Incidentally, I know that it wasn’t that funny, it still made me laugh (not difficult to do).
It is a SPRING TRAINING for the soul.
The person asking was inquiring as to whether or not I abstained from eating meat on Fridays during the Lenten season, which, obviously, I do. It did get me to thinking, however, about the word abstinence, and its bigger meaning in my own life.Abstinence from meat is more than “going without” or a “reminder” of the fact that Christ offered His flesh for us on the cross. Abstinence is a form of prayer, a discipline, and a focus on Christ and on our souls, rather than on self and on our own bodies. It is faith in action – placing our attention on Jesus and offering Him “our flesh” as a sacrifice, a vessel through which He can (and does) work (Romans 12).
Abstinence from meat, from drugs, from alcohol, from premarital sex…really from anything that might, can and/or does take our attention away from God is a wonderful blessing. It is an example of how our souls can lead our bodies, how we can make our flesh a slave to our spirit. That is what St. Paul is talking about in this passage from Romans today.
A single person continually choosing to live chastity, abstaining from premarital sex, is a beautiful example of their soul driving their flesh, and not vice versa. Likewise, even simpler, smaller gestures of “going without” meat on a Friday (for instance) is a great instance of sacrifice and love that God rewards with immeasurable grace.
When you “can’t have something” is obviously when it becomes all the more appealing.
It began in the Garden of Eden and has never stopped…for we are the brats of God.
Premarital sex is even more appealing to “un-marrieds” because it is wrong.
Snacking between meals seems even more desirable, when you’re fasting.
Abstaining from meat might seem almost impossible, when “forced” to do it.
Those moments of “difficulty” or “temptation” don’t have to lead to frustration or downfall, though. Not if we are aware. Not if we pray. Not if we refuse, in those moments, to allow our bodies and minds to dictate the actions of our souls. Our souls are gifted to us by God, designed to praise and bless, and are filled with power. The two are completely and intimately intertwined, but that doesn’t mean that one can’t “take the lead” on the dance floor of life. Your soul can control your body and make it a slave.
The first idea – pray. Use times like Lent to recognize and realize areas and moments in your life when your body leads your soul into dangerous waters. Identify them, ask God for help, and eliminate them.
A second idea - remember the acronym “B.A.T.H.S.” It stands for “bored, angry, tired, hungry and stressed”. What it means is that if you are any of the five, don’t allow yourself to make important decisions and be aware that in those situations, you are even more vulnerable to temptation and sin. Don’t allow yourself to become a slave to your emotions.
Jesus experienced the same types of emotions that you do, daily. When faced with those emotions (and with emotions far more intense, like in the Garden of Gethsemane), He prayed. THAT is faith in action.
Lent is a time to “step it up”. It is a SPRING TRAINING for the soul. It is a spiritual workout. It is a gift. Don’t “abstain” from the discipline, growth and grace that await you during this season. Don’t let a moment of weakness or struggle dictate your future, and don’t let a mistake become a tradition. When you fall, admit it, reconcile it and move on.
Everyone might not have rhythm, but thanks to God we all have SOUL.
SALVATION GIVEN
“…you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. For just as you presented your bodies as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, so now present them as slaves to righteousness...” – Romans 6:11-12, 19
Jesus carrying the cross…there is an example of a soul driving the body…
our love lingers at 10:38:00 AM
0 people said this is meant to be
0 people said this is meant to be
