Lent is a time in which we sacrifice something in life. This helps us to experience or internalize what it means to willingly go without something that is important to you but not necessary for you.
This kind of sacrifice helps us develop personal discipline, appreciate what we have, live more with less, and (perhaps most importantly) it prepares our appreciation for the sacrifice that Christ willingly made for us. Christ didn’t just give up deserts, cheese, or drinks… Christ gave up His life.
By sacrificing something for Lent, we are preparing ourselves for Holy Week. We are testing ourselves
- how important is our faith to us?
- are we truly capable of following the example of Christ’s sacrifice?
- are we able to internalize our faith and to carry it into our private lives?
… or is our “Churchiness” just a show of ritual performed in a specific social context in order to ‘keep up appearances’?
