‘Taking Up’ for Lent

‘What are you giving up for Lent?’ ‘Sweets!’ Childish? Of course. As a child, though, to go forty days without sweets was a serious commitment. St Patrick’s Day was the only light in a seemingly endless journey of sweet deprivation.

 There is so much more to Lent. The child in us may give up sweets, but the faithful part of us is called to a place of reflection and repentance, where we take stock and accept what we find, a storeroom from which is brought out the old and the new, where we might find memories of more faith- filled and innocent days, when  going to church and blessing our face came naturally.

As well as ‘giving up’ for Lent is there a place for ‘taking up’ too? Taking up a more positive outlook, taking up again the call to Sunday Mass? Is there room on the Lenten journey for a bit of social justice, outreach, charity, volunteerism? Space to make a difference in the lives of others? Maybe, if we can forgive a little, love a lot, share more, pray sincerely, be involved, we will find that instead of giving up sweets, a spiritual sweetness, a true sense of wellness, will envelop us.

Vincent Sherlock, The Sacred Heart Messenger, February 2023