3 Days In, Don't Be A Grumpy Christian

Have you ever noticed that the first day is never the hardest day? Whether it is a new job, a new diet, a new exercise program, learning a new instrument, or virtually any other new commitment, the first day is always easy. You're excited, you're passionate, you're ready to do whatever it is that you're doing. The second day, well, you're passion is starting to fade, but it is still there. By day three though, you are frustrated. You've had your first nasty client, you haven't lost any weight, the six pack abs are still in the cooler of belly fat, and your instrument still sounds like someone is baptizing a cat. It can be tempting to give up, or become angry and take out your frustrations on others. 

Lent is no different. On Ash Wednesday, we've gotten our "ashtag" and we're ready to repent. After a few days of giving up something or adding a Rosary or scripture reading to our daily schedule, we're not seeing results. We may think, "Come on God! Give me something!" We may take out our frustration on others and become a grumpy Christian.

Our readings today fit this third day mentality well. God reminds us through the Prophet Isaiah that fasting does no good if it ends in taking out our frustrations on others or not actually changing our lives for the better. These actions separate us from others and focus us on ourselves, thus turning us away from God. Jesus takes it a step further and says that guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them. In other words, by His physical presence, His disciples are close to Him and learning directly from Him. They have no need to fast and abstain to change their focus. When He is not with them, however, then they will need to fast to turn their focus back to God when it drifts away. 

Our fasting is not meant as a self-induced punishment. God calls us to fast from things of this world so that we can be filled by Him. He calls us to focus on others so that we can truly discover how He has called us to live. God always calls out of love, including in His discipline. If our fasting makes us only think about ourselves and our suffering, it does us no good. What we do during Lent should turn us back towards God and by that same merit, turn us outward toward others. 

This Lent, don't be a grumpy Christian. Allow the emptiness of your fast to be filled with the good things of God. 

Today's Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022015.cfm