“What are you giving up for Lent?” If you are a student at Good Counsel, you have doubtless heard this question many times, usually as a filler for small talk. You will discuss the chosen sacrifice for the coming 40 days, perhaps giving up chocolate or getting rid of some bad habit. There is not too much thought put into the entire affair, and besides not being able to eat meat during school lunch on Fridays, the chances are that you will not suffer too much. However, is this really what Lent is supposed to be? Our reminder of Christ’s struggle in the desert is not just a cheap gimmick. It is a deep and rich tradition that reminds us of our human weakness. Lent is a period for serious contemplation, a chance to distance yourself from the clamor of modernity and correct the course your life is taking. We must be reminded that Satan’s most powerful tools are our desires, the ones that we put before God. Christ faced three temptations during his fast: the desires of avoiding suffering, gaining power, and proving wrong his enemies. These desires are so closely tied to our lives, especially in modern times. Would you be able to get rid of all your possessions, your phone, and your house, and submit yourself to hunger? Would you be able to turn away the chance to have all the power in the world and do away with the people in power that you just know is wrong? The most profound thing that we often overlook is that Christ could easily have said yes to any of these temptations. He was not pulling willpower out from some supernatural storage. He was drawn to them just as much as you and I would be. Our Lord’s example is so important because it reminds us to reject earthly goals in pursuit of the truth, goodness, and beauty of God. Just as the angels came down to relieve Jesus, we too are promised an everlasting reward for our devotion to God and our pursuit of holiness. Therefore, as we continue this Lenten season, I urge you to take time to reflect on your spiritual journey sincerely. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort.  You were made for greatness.” 

Featured image courtesy of The Diocese of Jamaica & The Cayman Islands