“It’s Friday, I can’t have meat.”
You might have heard this phrase before, or even have said it yourself. You might see people on campus with a cross on their forehead this Ash Wednesday and possibly fish in the dining halls each Friday for the next 40 days. So what does this all mean exactly?
Practiced by Christian denominations, this Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent — a 40-day liturgical period leading to Easter Sunday. For those who do not celebrate Lent, it can be described as a time to give up things you love for something bigger than yourself.
Growing up as a Catholic schoolgirl, Lent was a time to simply stop eating meat on Fridays and give up my guilty pleasures. But as I grew, so did the meaning of Lent.
Lent is not only a preparation for the coming of Jesus, but a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These are known as the three disciplines of Lent. Discipline may sound negative, but it’s quite the opposite. To discipline yourself also means to commit to something. That’s what Lent truly is about, committing yourself to God. Connecting with God through prayer, sacrificing things that matter to you, and giving part of yourself to others are what is asked of Christians during this time.
When I was younger, the “go-to” sacrifice was sweets. It was something I loved and 40 days without it – wow. That was tough. But now, that sacrifice doesn’t seem like enough.
This Lent, I’ve decided to turn my give-ups to give aways. As a constantly on-the-go student, I’m always on a time crunch. So, to give away some of the time I’d spend on myself, I’d rather spend it on others. Helping the community, a charity, or even participating more in our Catholic Campus Ministry seem like stronger disciplines to me.
Whether you participate in Lent or not, I encourage you to go out of your comfort zone. Focus on others as opposed to yourself this season. Who knows, it might just become a habit.