“The lent period of fasting should be passionately pursued .” ~
I. LOVE. THIS. QUOTE! Is that definitive enough? I just love the thought that Lent and its invitations and requirements should not only be pursued but should be pursued with passion. Passion. Merriam-Webster would say that “passion”, in this context, would be an “intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction”.
Have you ever embraced something passionately? That intense, driving conviction often enabled us to go to great lengths to accomplish something or to help something come about. St. Paul spoke about this passion as well when he wrote that the love of Christ compels us to action.
Passion. Compulsion. Conviction. These words are far from passive. They are about as active as one can get and they embody what we should be doing during our Lenten journey. Lent is far more than a simple ride in a car with someone else driving. Lent is about immersing ourselves — getting down and dirty if you will — in our Lenten resolutions and pursuits.
Lent is not the time to “play it safe”. Lent is the time to go all out knowing full well that we might crash and burn but also knowing that God can and will give us the grace necessary to get up again and continue our pursuit. Our passion for Christ should be allowed to consume us and to direct our thoughts, words, and actions throughout this season.
FAITH ACTION: Don’t let your Lenten work be lukewarm. Instead, pursue all your Lenten endeavors with the passion they deserve.