You can have the best intentions for Lent, and still fall to the vicissitudes of your busy life. And even given a Lent well spent, Holy Week is busy, both with church activities, and with the swirl of Spring. As Winter wanes, daily life presents more demands. Getting the house and yard set for Summer, kids starting their last push in school, work activities. They all detract from concentration on the season. And it doesn't help if your Lent hasn't met your own expectations. But that's what Holy Week is for. It's your last chance to do it right.
The way my Lent has gone this year, I feel like I need a do-over. Most years, I give myself a passing grade (as if I'm the one doing the grading). I give myself a set of spiritual goals, and I get most of them done. The goals might not be too onerous, but I feel like I've accomplished something beyond what I'd do the rest of the year by the time Easter rolls around. This year has been, if not an "epic fail" (I did not murder anyone), a plain victory for spiritual sloth. And maybe that's a spiritual lesson in itself. And a lick, a spit, and a promise for next year.
And here it is, Holy Saturday. I made up some ground over Holy Week, but now I"m back to breaking my own "rules", snacking and drinking some wine as I watch the Final Four games. I have to remember, what was Jesus doing on this day? I mean, He had just saved mankind from itself. But He still had to convince some people that that's exactly what he'd done. That meant Resurrection and 40 days of unannounced appearances. Why not take a break? That's what I'd do. But what was He doing? He was busy, even today.
Religion Desk Editor admists sloth, looks for salvation at last minute.
Good Save
Posted by: hank | April 04, 2010 at 02:01 AM