Don't You Give up Anything for Lent!!

What are you giving up for Lent this year? Anything?

I hope not! I hope that, with all sincerity, you can tell me that you haven’t given up a single thing for Lent.

Because that’s not an Orthodox notion, the idea of “giving up something for Lent.” Some people say that are giving up drinking Coca-Cola, or watching ESPN Sportscenter, or spending time on Facebook. Those might all be worthwhile things to cut down on, probably all year long; but giving up those things is not what Lent is about in the Orthodox Church.

In Orthodoxy, Lent isn’t about punishing yourself with self-inflicted inconveniences. Lent is about prayer and fasting, it’s about forgiving and giving for the poor. I hope you don’t see all that as giving up something, do you?

When we are called by the Church in Lent to come to more services and pray, do you see that as giving up something? Really? When you come to a Wednesday evening Presanctified Liturgy service, what are giving up? Reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond”? When you come to a Friday evening Salutations service, what are giving up? The umpteenth basketball game of the season? Another smoky night at the casino? You come to church and you sit in this gorgeous space and have your mind filled with beautiful thoughts and your ears filled with beautiful hymns and your heart filled with the peace from above, and you still say that in comparison to a date with cable TV, you’re giving up something?

When we are called by the Church in Lent to alter our diet through fasting, do you see that as giving up something? Honestly? Cutting back on calories you don’t need, and on artery-hardening you don’t want, …you call that “sacrifice”? A lighter diet, less heartburn, smaller food bills, more “regularity”—and you think of that as “suffering for Jesus”?

When we are called by the Church in Lent to seek forgiveness from God and from those we have wronged, and to extend forgiveness freely to all around us, do you see that as missing out on something fun? Really? You would rather spend all the time and psychic energy holding on to grudges and keeping long lists of grievances and opening old wounds over and over and over again? You like losing sleep in the night while you rehash ancient history and dream up that perfect zinger for the next time you-know-who is within earshot? That’s your idea of a good time, is it, such that really practicing Lenten forgiveness would feel like a loss to you?

When we are called by the Church in Lent to share our material blessings with the less fortunate, do you see that as giving up something? Clothes you no longer wear, furniture you no longer use, household items you no longer have room for because you replaced them with the latest model—giving these things to someone who can make immediate and joyful use of them, this cramps your style in some way? Passing on a pricey, sugary drink at Starbucks and giving the money to feed starving people, this strikes you as a downer?

If that’s the case—if prayer and fasting and forgiveness and sharing feel like you’re giving something up for Lent—than I say, again, as your priest and spiritual father: don’t do it. You are only setting yourself back spiritually if you do. If Lent is not for you a season of satisfaction and anticipation and freedom and JOY, then just skip it. You are only sowing seeds of resentment, leading later in life to a harvest of bitterness. If learning one of life’s most important lessons—learning how to say No to yourself—seems like a big sacrifice, then don’t bother, because with that attitude, the more you succeed, the more you only fail.

I remember a conversation I had twenty years ago, as a young Orthodox Christian, with my parish priest back in Springfield, Massachusetts, just before Orthros on the Sunday of Cross-Veneration. He said to expect a big crowd today, because any time you give something away—a flower, a palm cross, a sprig of basil—the house is packed.

And so today, my friends, I have a second question to ask you. What do you go to church to receive? A flower? Because I’ve gotta tell you, I have … every Sunday … something far better than a flower to hand out to each and every one of you.

I have words of wisdom, the Gospel.

I have the comfort of prayer, for you and your loved ones, being remembered by name here in the Holy Altar, if you but take the time to let me know your wishes.

I have the medicine of immortality, Holy Communion, for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting. I have this to give to you every Sunday.

If you come to church just to get a flower, you wasted your gas money. Take a walk around your block early some morning. I’m sure you have a neighbor nearby with daffodils in his front yard right now. Swipe one and he’ll never notice.

How about this? Scratch my two previous questions. Let me ask only one instead. What are you hoping to get from God this Lent? There are many possibilities, many things to choose from. Self-discipline? Freedom from guilt and shame? A fresh outlook on life? A sense of peace in God’s will? The spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love? If you get even one of those things, you’ve hit the jackpot.

Next year, when Lent begins, ask yourself that question: What do I hope to get from God this Lent? It’s not too late to ask it even midway through the season. Don’t give up anything, except this: let’s resolve to give up this language of “giving up things for Lent.” In the Orthodox Church, Lent is a forty-day feast, a smorgasbord of delights. And you even get a flower with your meal. What could be better?

I wish you all a blessed Lent, leading to a glorious Resurrection. Kali Sarakosti, kai Kali Anastasi!!