A Banquet of the Poor

Dear Friends,

This Wednesday we begin the Lenten season. My thoughts and practices of Lent have changed over the years. While we read in the Preface of Lent that it is a “happy season”, I never looked at it that way as a youngster or even in my early days in seminary. In those earlier days Lent was always a time of giving something up – usually candy, sweets or deserts. I remember as a young priest going to a restaurant on Friday and substituting the meat entrée for fish. It was then that I began to rethink Lent. Is it a sacrifice to give up eating meat for lobster or crab cakes? It was actually a “trade-off”. I was keeping a church rule but there was no sacrifice. I also remember reading what Pope Leo had said many years before: “ Let your fasting become the banquet of the poor.” Crab cakes, shrimp, hardly fit the banquet of the poor. Ordering a simpler entrée and putting the difference in the parish poor box or the Starfish basket at the entrance to the church might be a more appropriate sacrifice. Skipping the appetizer and putting the difference to help the less fortunate could be a better practice. Over six weeks it can really mount up.

While on the subject of “giving up”, perhaps instead of giving up something material, we might give up something much more difficult. I recall the saying: “IT IS BETTER TO GIVE UP HATE THAN TO GIVE UP WEIGHT.” Perhaps calling (or emailing or texting) a relative or friend whom we have been at odds with or even put a wall between is far more in keeping with the Lenten spirit than giving up a snickers bar (my favorite). And it might well be a more difficult Lenten sacrifice. Think of that when you listen on Ash Wednesday to the words in the Book of Joel in the Old Testaments: “RETURN TO ME WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART. REND YOUR HEARTS NOT YOUR GARMENTS.” Thousands of years ago it was the practice for Jewish males to tear their outer garment as a sign of repentance. Today, we might rephrase the saying: Look out for others, forgive, show kindness, acceptance and love to those you may have been ignoring. Try to accept those you are prejudiced against. That in itself is far more meaningful than giving up sweets.

Yes, I have matured in my outlook of Lent. It is now a time of personal and spiritual growth. Now it is a time to look inward and see how well I do (or do not) live the Gospel message. For those who may attend daily Mass as a Lenten practice, I encourage you to remember the words my Episcopal colleague has at the exit of his church: THE SERVICE IS ENDED – NOW SERVICE BEGINS. Lent is a time to become more holy and by holy I suggest the definition of Father William McNamara, noted author and retreat director: “TO BE A HOLY PERSON, JUST INSERT THE LETTER “W” BEFORE HOLY. A HOLY PERSON IS A WHOLE PERSON OPEN TO THE NEEDS OF ALL.” To give up our candy and sweets is a much easier Lenten sacrifice. The above is much more difficult, but it will result in a more meaningful Lent for you and for others.

We all have our own ideas of Lent and how we look at our faith and our God. You must do what is comfortable for you. For me ,however, trying to live the Gospel message is far more meaningful…and a little more difficult than giving up candy!

Have a nice week.