My dear folk,
There is a wonderful prescription for Lent which Fr. Jarvis frequently offered. My first experience of it was in what he wrote for Lent issue of The Chronicle just before I was called to be Rector. I thought it was spot on. It was the only thing which made me feel a tinge of regret when that call was extended to me: I thought I never be able to use his concise and direct advice. Let’s just say that I’ve decided I was wrong – and that I've brazenly stolen that bit of wisdom and have been using it ever since.
His advice for Lent was very simply put: Give up, pick up, & shut up.
Give up. Some form of self-denial is essential for our spiritual growth. Find something to give up: a food, a treat, an activity. Something. Often our resistence to making a sacrifice, even a very minor one, reveals to us just how much we really do need to make it. We tell ourselves that all these physical things, our creature comforts, are not so very important to us. Ah yes... they’re so unimportant that we can’t bear to set them aside for a little while. This Lent give up something.
Pick up. Take something on. A work of mercy, visiting someone sick or lonely. Worship at a weekday Mass or the weekly Stations of the Cross. Read the scriptures or a devotional book. Add something to what you are already doing. Stretch yourself. Few of us would not benefit from exercising our spiritual muscles a bit. This is not a prescription to taking on things which are gargantuan or grandiose – and at which we are likely to fail. Remember, a ship’s rudder doesn’t need to be put over all the way to nevertheless profoundly change the direction and destination of the vessel.
And shut up. In other words, just do it. Get on with it! What more need be said? Enough of excuses and rationalizations. If we hope to grow spiritually, then we too must actually do it. Pray, not just read about praying (which can be helpful, but not if that is all we ever do). Serve, not just think it would be a great thing to do. There is no substitute for actually doing the thing itself. So get on with it; just do it.
My sisters and brothers, may this Lent be a time of growth and renewal for each of you. And may we each come to the joy of this Easter with a deeper knowledge of the unfathomable love of our God.
Yours, in our Lord’s service,
Michael J. Godderz+
(Ruth Godderz)
