Imagine it is Easter Day, 2023.
Not contingent on what you have done, we will celebrate the Lord’s resurrection.
Not contingent on what you have done, He will have resurrected for you.
And like in the Gospel of John, the first thing He will say is, “Peace be with you.”
Why? Where is the reward in that? Whether you have fulfilled your intense Lenten program dutifully, gave up on day two, or carried on through Lent lukewarmly, He offers His peace to you.
So why do you continue fasting? Maybe your fasts are annoying at this point, maybe you have fallen a lot, or maybe you just don’t see the purpose. Why fast if you can’t earn God’s love?
Well, the point isn’t you. In fact, Christianity is not about you (it’s not YOUianity!). We die to ourselves so that Christ may live in this world. Lent is not about your self-help, rather your self-giving such that you are brought closer to Christ, who emptied Himself of everything to save you. Lent reveals to us where we are weak so we can usher in the true Christ and rely on Him.
Through your humble sacrifices, you open space in your heart for Jesus, bringing Him glory. Detachment brings us away from ourselves and all those things we rely on before Him, exposing where our hearts are still under our own control and not His. We seek detachment from ourselves as Christians, and especially through Lent, to make room for Christ. Like Mary, whose body physically made room for the Lord, we are called to make room for Christ so that it is Him who dwells and works within us.
As Lent ends, instead of giving you motivation and encouragement that you can do it (though you can!) and that you should keep going (You got this!), I invite you to reflect on who you are fasting for so that on Easter Sunday, your response to the Lord’s offer of peace is His praise.
Trust that God will fulfill you. Keep emptying a space for Him to grow what is most beautiful within you. The Lord will use everything you give Him to bring you to His eternal glory. If we are not living fully for Him, what is this all for?
Our Lady of Good Help, teach our souls to steadfastly sing the Lord’s praise!
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”