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Maintaining the Proper Demeanor During Lent

Lent is a wonderful opportunity for Catholic and Protestant alike to refocus themselves on our Lord. As Jay has previously mentioned, the three pillars of Lent are fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. What is so wonderful is that there can be little dispute about the holiness of all three things, as they are encouraged so often in Scripture. Taken together, they represent the highest manner of self-denial. We give up the satisfaction of our physical needs, reject the materials of the world, and offer up to Heaven the most valuable thing we possess, our worship. Often times, however, we go through Lent without understanding that it is not supposed to be about the things we are doing; rather, the things we are doing must actively change our hearts and at the same time reflect what is in our hearts. Our demeanor is usually a dead giveaway on whether we are truly pursuing the purpose of the Lenten season. I propose that there are two primary characteristics that should be reflected in your participation in Lent.

Solemnity and Sobriety
Lent should be a time of solemnity and sobriety. And in an age where joviality, comedy, outrageousness, and the party lifestyle are all celebrated and glorified, sobriety is a rare treasure. This treasure should be pursued most actively during this season where we contemplate the sufferings of Christ, the futility of all the world has to offer, and the need for the suffering of our own flesh.

My family is in the process of becoming more sober during evening prayers, recognizing that it is the Lord we are coming before. My wife and children have been somewhat confused by the new focus on proper bearing during prayer. After all, we are taught that Jesus is our "buddy", and all we need is love. He has forgiven us from all sin, right? Wouldn't God want us to laugh and have a good time? Unfortunately, this position is really a societal misconstruction of things like love, laughter, and friendship. When applied to our relationship with God, we subconsciously place ourselves on equal footing with God. The truth is that we are nowhere close.

Consider just two examples of people who saw God's face. First, Isaiah, the holy prophet of Israel, states, "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple... 'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" (Isaiah 6:1-5). Then, the apostle John states, "I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: 'Write on a scroll what you see...' I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw ... someone 'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest... When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!'" (Rev. 1:10-18).

Note the difference in circumstances in these two visions. Isaiah lived under the law in the old testament times. He did not have a full understanding of forgiveness. And he apparently saw the face of the Father. John was an apostle of Christ, and would have understood His sacrifice. And John's vision was clearly of Christ. Yet the common thread in each vision is the response: both of them felt dead. Isaiah cries out that he is ruined and John falls as though dead! Faced with the exalted Lord, both of these "holy" men were immediately and acutely aware of their own sinfulness and finity. John's example is particularly striking; here is the apostle whom "the Lord loved" falling in fear at the sight of his dear friend's face and the sound of His voice.

Ask yourself during this Lent, should our response be any different? I do not think so. While we have been given the right to be called children of God, we must never underestimate the disparity between our position and God's. His supremacy over us is unimaginable, so much so as to inspire terror. Now as Christ's response to John shows, he does not desire that we be in terror, but rather that we enter into a relationship with Him. But that relationship must be based upon a proper understanding of who and what God is. Solemnity and sobriety are keys to approaching the Lord with an appreciation for the gravity of His power and magnificence. This Lent, consider meditating on the holiness and awesomeness of God, and the relative diminutive nature of your own attributes.

Joy and Thanksgiving
Considering the demeanor of solemnity and sobriety described above, it might be surprising to see that one should also demonstrate a demeanor of joy and thanksgiving. They seem contrary to one another. But as with so many things Catholic that appear contrarian (three in one, faith and works, grace and free will, etc.), they are actually in harmony.

First, it is very notable that Christ addressed all three of the pillars of Lent in His Sermon on the Mount. Not only that, He addressed them one after the other. And finally, His teaching was not so much to encourage people to actually do those three things, but rather how to do them. Regarding almsgiving, He states, "when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret." (Matt. 6:2-4). Regarding prayer, "do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues... to be seen by men... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father..." (Matt. 6:5-6). And regarding fasting, "do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting... But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face..." (Matt. 6:16-17). In each example He notes that people who do everything publicly receive their reward here, but those who do these things in private are rewarded by God.

The second point I would like to make is how suffering was treated by the apostles. Universally, James (5:10), Peter (I Pet. 4:13), Paul (Col. 1:24), and the author of Hebrews (11:26) all considered suffering as something to be patient in and as a cause for rejoicing. In fact, when Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison, they prayed and sang hymns! Why? Because they saw through their sufferings to the fruition of what would result. (Rom. 8:18). They recognized that to suffer was to be made joint heirs with Christ our Lord. In essence, they saw through their own crucifixion to their own resurrection, in Christ. And this produced in them joy and thanksgiving beyond what words could express. In other words, they ignored what the world thought of suffering and saw instead the reward that God would bring.

The teachings of Christ and the response of the apostles to the three pillars of Lent demonstrate that our faces and hearts need not and should not be downcast during this season. Frequently, we have a tendency to lament our suffering or complain about what we are giving up. More often, we will tell all of our friends what we are "giving up" and ask them the same in a sort of comparison test of whose gutting it out better (guilty on this end). Remember, though, that our sufferings are meant to be united to Christ. They are not unbearable burdens, nor are they badges of honor with which we impress our friends. Rather, they are the gateway to the purification of our souls and life everlasting with the Father.

This Lent, I encourage everyone to solemnly recognize the power and holiness of the Lord whom we are called to serve, put aside the frivolity and materials of this world, take joy in the sufferings we endure in our flesh for the betterment of our soul, and give heartfelt thanks for the unfathomable gift that Christ has given us in the opportunity to suffer with Him that we might be called the sons of God. Peace, courage, and joy to all of you brothers and sisters in the Lord.

In Christ,
Dave