TRUTH

A priest is saying his evening prayers as he strolls through the cemetery next to his church. Suddenly a thief pounces upon him with knife in hand and says, Your money or your life? The priest fishes through his pockets, realizes he has left his wallet home, and only finds a chocolate bar. He offers it to the thief, who responds, No thanks, Father, I gave up chocolates for Lent.

Ash Wednesday. Another Lent begins. How will this one be different?

Will we give up something out of tradition…or will it be something more?

This week there was a story about how the Jaguars are assessing their team. In the past, as with most teams, they looked at the 3 Ss – Size, Speed and Strength. 

But they have found that these are not enough. The players also need – MT – Mental Toughness.

Perhaps this may help give us a new perspective on Lent. Though professional football players are already very talented, they take time for training and exercise before the playing season begins in their quest for the Super Bowl, by striving to be the best players they can be, and by helping their teammates to be their best, as well.

We, too, already have holiness within us, but are given a special time of training and exercise - Lent - in our quest for resurrection with Christ, by being our very best...and by bringing out the best in our "teammates"  

The Church seeks to make of us the best team for Christ, through F A P – Fasting, Alms giving and Prayer.

But more than the mere practice of F A P, what the Church really wants is that we become Spiritually Tough, to bring out the best in us, and through us.

Jesus came to help us be Spiritually Tough (ST)...to be evermore aware of God's love and presence. Thus, alms giving is not about just helping someone in need. We don’t give alms to solve world poverty or to save another. That’s between God and them. We don't give alms to change others. We cannot change others…only ourselves. 

We give alms to another only secondarily because they are in need. We give alms because we are in need…of ST (Spiritual Toughness)...which leads to another St - sainthood - holiness - oneness with God. 

We give alms in secret, that is, the gift is between us and God. We give not only what we have but ourselves, from the heart, and God rewards us in the heart by indwelling within us…so that it will change us. Or better said, to help us be our truest self.

The same is true of prayer and fasting.

Lent is not simply a ritual or a discipline, but a desire and commitment to return to our truest self. As Jesus said, The truth will set you free. 

There are many ways to do that. I would like to suggest one way, which may be a challenge for each of us. As a country, we are a team divided. While we each may have our "liberal" or "conservative" biases, the real challenge, whether about the world or ourselves, is to seek the truth. 

How best to get at the truth?  May I suggest during these forty days of Lent, in addition to your spiritual reflections and good deeds, if you get your truth from Fox that you also watch CNN. And vice-versa. I'm not trying to be political. Simply suggesting a way to build community...to make us the best, peaceable team... for the good of our country and for our Lord.

Lastly, a final story. Some years back, Sarah Ferguson, was divorced from Prince Andrew. She lost her title and wealth, became depressed - her self-esteem was very low. She seemed lost, not sure how to move forward. 

She began to put on weight. Then Weight Watchers called to offer her a position as spokesperson for the company. But first she had to go through the program.

She did, and, in an interview which followed, stated: Weight Watchers is not about losing weight. Weight Watchers is about discovering and being your truest self. It is seeing and living who you truly are.

Lent is a time to discover and be our truest self; to see and live who we really are.