By Sister Sharon Marie, OP

(Sister Sharon Marie is a member of the community serving at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer home.)

Lent -- what does it mean to me? This question sounds deceptively easy to answer. However, I soon discovered that it is not one, which is easily answered. It would be very simple to say that Lent only means preparation for the Easter mystery by self-denial and prayer. But, this is not really the question that's being asked. The question I'm to answer is, "What does Lent mean to you, Sister Sharon Marie, and why?" Why do I sometimes give up chocolates, gum or Cokes? Why do I spend time mediating on Jesus' Passion? What earthly good to these practices serve? What will I gain by them? Indeed, do I expect to gain anything by them?

First, I must say I believe that giving up chocolate, chewing gum or Cokes is a strictly private observance. If, for example, I decided not to eat chocolate as a part of my Lenten practice and a friend offered me a Reese's peanut butter cup, I would take it, express my thanks and enjoy it. To me, this is the best way to handle this situation. It's much better than exclaiming that Id given up chocolate, that it's very hard to do without, etc., etc. My friend may be very impressed; she would probably even tell me what a wonderful person I am and what a big sacrifice I've made. Then, in the center of my being, I'd know that "you have already had your reward."

If, on the other hand, I should stroll by a vending machine filled with Reese's peanut butter cups, my mouth may water, but if I can stand there quietly and say, "Jesus, I offer this up for you," then I can walk away feeling every bit as good about myself as I did when I actually enjoyed the one my friend gave me. I feel too, that one each occasion I received the same blessing. So you see, this is one reason why I would give up something for Lent -- so that "your Father in heaven may see all that is done in secret and reward you."

Why take time to meditate on the Passion? Why not be satisfied with daily Mass and the community recitation of morning and evening prayers? All of these have as their theme Lent and the Passion, so why bother with extra time in prayer? My reason is so that I can draw closer to Jesus in his suffering, then I can more fully rejoice with him in his Resurrection. I would do the same for any friend who is hurting. I'd want to be by their side to understand their pain and to share in their joy -- and Jesus is such a special friend to me.

I have met many people over the years who tell me that during the recitation of the Passion they are unable to or refuse to cry "Crucify Him!" If I cannot say, "Crucify Him!" on Good Friday, then neither can I say "Alleluia, He is risen" on Easter Sunday. Lent helps me to realize that in my own life I have done many things that have crucified him. I am enabled to say the words my life has lived knowing that his life and his promise for forgiveness will take my death giving words or acts and gloriously transform them into life-giving Easter proclamations: "See, I make all things new!"

The Mass itself gives what I think are three important guidelines for Lenten observance -- it does not say to give up Cokes or candy, nor does it tell us to wear sackcloth and ashes. It simply states in one of the prefaces, "We are to master our sinfulness, conquer our pride and show to those in need your goodness to ourselves." These are relatively painless directives -- much easier than the sackcloth and ashes route. The first two are easy enough to do. I know my own sinfulness and how proud I can be, but the third, this is the challenge -- and to me that most important. What does the church mean by "showing to those in need your goodness to ourselves?" How do I know someone's need to see Jesus' goodness to me? I'm not sure how I would show them such goodness. My only way to accomplish this is to live my commitment joyfully and to its fullness, to "Let your light shine before men that they may see your works and give glory to your Father" -- not to me, but to my Father.

So it seems that to me Lent is a time of prayer and meditation -- this prayer may include the private recitation of the Stations or it may be extra time before the Blessed Sacrament meditating on the Passion. It is also a time for sacrifice which may mean no Cokes or gum or whatever. Most of all it means that I make an extra effort to show others God's goodness to me. Why all this? What on earth is it for? Why? To make me a better person. What on earth is it for? -- nothing, on THIS earth.