LENT--A time for discipline

Following is something I found years ago, concerning our disposition during the season of Lent. Kind of makes you think:

LENT…a time for discipline

By Fr. Raymond Zweber
(Taken from the St. Augustine bulletin)

A Christian is a follower of Christ. Christ left
no doubt as to the one absolute condition required
of His followers: “If anyone wants to be a follower
of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his
cross every day and follow me.”

During Lent, we renew our commitment to Christ:
to follow Him more closely. We renounce ourselves
and take up our cross and walk in His footsteps.

What makes up that cross? Immediately we
think of sickness, misfortunes of all kinds, the
burdens of work, bearing with one anothers'
faults, the heat of summer, the cold of winter, etc.

But seldom do we think of the most obvious crosses
which arise from our human nature weakened by
original sin:

There is the weakness of covetousness which is
greed. “I want more and I want it now.”

There is the weakness of lust, which is difficultly
in ordering my sexuality as God intended and to
practice the virtue of chastity.

There is the weakness of pride, that seeks to
dominate; that fails to be considerate of others;
that exalts self above all others.

There is the weakness of envy, which brings
sadness at the good fortune of others and
jealousy that sees a threat to my own excellence
in the blessings that come to others.

There is the weakness of gluttony, which finds
difficulty in disciplining appetites for food and
drink and creature comforts.

There is the weakness of sloth which is a dis-
taste for spiritual things(prayer, Mass, confess-
ion, etc) or an aversion for work, even essential
work.

There is the weakness of anger which is a
rebellion against God and others because of
circumstances or persons.

All these weaknesses need discipline and
so involve the cross. All our penances of Lent,
whether fasting, prayer or alms-giving have this
discipline as an end. Unless they are directed
to this end, we are just going through the motions
of Lent and we are no more a “Christian” at
Easter than we are now.

Examine yourself honestly. See where
discipline is needed in your life. Then enter
into the true spirit of Lent---denying yourself
and taking up your cross daily to follow
Christ.