Christ's Light Through Lent

Anni Harry ponders the challenge of making Lenten sacrifices for moms who are already in a season of suffering.

This year for Lent I joined my 11-year-old in giving up soda. That was all I could commit to doing for these forty days of Lent.

It has felt as though my family has been living Lent since early December of this past year. Life, itself, can be a lengthy season of Lent, and when our season intersects with the liturgical season, it is very easy to become overwhelmed at the focus on fasting, praying, and giving “more.”

We have been warned throughout Scripture that living a Christian way of life is not going to be easy. We are encouraged to carry our crosses as Christ carried His for us. Catholics place a focus on uniting our suffering with that of Christ.

The season of Lent is not meant to be a period of punishment. Rather, it is a period inviting us to sacrifice in love.

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When we gaze upon the cross, we see physically sacrificial love. Love was poured out from Christ through His wounds on the Cross.

While we aren’t necessarily asked to give up our lives for Christ, we are sometimes invited to give up our expectations of our life for Christ.

We would like life to be easy, neat, and our vision of perfect.

Yet Christ’s agony in the garden shows us how our vision usually pales in comparison to the vision of the Father. In Christ’s full humanity, He begged for the cup to pass from Him; then, in the next breath, He conceded that not His will, but the Father’s will be done.

Our lives are just like that scene: we have a vision for how we expect life to go, and then, ultimately face the challenge that Christ faced: giving up our control for the will of the Father.

When we do so, we are given the opportunity to experience peace in our hearts.

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The road we travel as part of our journey toward heaven might be filled with bumps, holes, gravel underfoot, and we might be fielding blows left and right. Yet, the end of that journey is the complete unity with our Father, because of the loving sacrifice of our Savior.

So, this year, if all you can do during Lent is offer your suffering and difficulties to Christ without giving up more than “simple” creature comforts, take heart.

Your sacrifice is worthy because Christ made us worthy.

The moments in which we receive reprieve and a needed salve in the midst of Lent are those times in which we receive His strength in the Eucharist.

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If all you can do during Lent is offer your suffering and difficulties to Christ without giving up more than “simple” creature comforts, take heart. #CatholicMom

If your Lent is not shaping up the way you envisioned on Ash Wednesday, lean into the Lent being molded by our Father. He alone knows the Lent you need in order to be invited into a deeper, loving relationship with Him.

Turn to Christ and trust His saving love with all your heart.

Let Christ be the light in these dark days, and even seasons, of Lent.

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