Making Lent a
time of spiritual renewal requires discipline. For many of us, this means first
setting aside time to take stock of our shortcomings and determining ways we can
challenge ourselves to get closer to God through the three primary tools of the
season: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Then, following the advice of St.
Benedict in chapter 49 of his rule, it means that we share our intentions with
a spiritual guide to ensure our plans are formed out of humility rather than
ego and that they are life giving. After that, our discipline consists of attempting
to follow through with our intentions by putting them into practice every day
during the six weeks of Lent.
An alternate
approach to Lent is to focus on the discipline required to keep an open heart. This
type of discipline requires monitoring our thoughts and feelings so we can weed
out pride and judgment as soon as they arise. It means being willing to change
our plans when God appears to us in the form of someone who needs our
assistance or has something to teach us. It means creating space to hear what
God has to say by resisting busyness and spending more time in prayer.
The word discipline comes from the Latin word discipulus, meaning “pupil.” As students
of Jesus, our primary goal is to learn how to see and love others as he did. The
approach we take to being his disciple will differ based on our temperament, strengths
and weaknesses, upbringing, and experiences. How we go about practicing
discipleship doesn’t matter as much as being faithful to our call and staying focused
on the goal of living in God’s love with as much of our heart, soul, and mind
as we can muster.
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