Photo by Chandler Cruttenden on Unsplash

I was excited and eager to fast from hot showers one Lent. I imprudently started a week early. I had an attitude of I can do this rather than For you Jesus. One of my good friends fasted from hot showers during the winter. Me, being competitive, wanted to match him in the sacrifice. Funnily enough, I came ill with bronchitis a few days later on Ash Wednesday. I didn’t have a cold shower for a long time.

I learned that God desires a small sacrifice with great love rather than a great sacrifice with small love. This Lent, God does not want a big sacrifice. He wants your heart.

We just began our Lenten journey. It is a season of dying to self so we can unite ourselves with the Passion of Jesus Christ, who suffered on the Cross for our sins. He died so we could have life. This is a good time for us to grow our relationship with God.

A smart way to approach Lent is to simply consider that one area we are currently struggling in. What is holding us back in our relationship with God? Envy? Pride? Lust? Laziness?

Look at that area of vice and devote ourselves to the opposite virtue. That could help us be intentional about what we can do for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

I am not going to fast from cold showers. And while I’ve fasted from chocolate, cheese, or music in the past, this winter I am fasting from my cell phone. I am currently struggling to be in the present moment. I find my phone is a great distraction.

To help me grow in God’s presence, I am regularly commiting to pray with St.Joseph. And I plan to do one act of charity for someone every day. I think those simple three things will deepen my love for God.

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