Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
The comedian and actor Adam Sandler once had a standup bit where he said that when his family asked about whatever happened to an ex-girlfriend, he would just say: “She’s dead, Grandma.” The point was that it was too tedious to get into why the relationship went south or to have to admit failure. It was simpler to give the excuse of unexpected demise to shut down subsequent unpleasantries.
We all would like to make our problems go away—sudden death, as it were. When the Lord says through the Prophet Isaiah, “Cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim,” He makes it seem so simple. And in one sense, it is. When we are new to life in Christ, we are ready to make any sacrifice. Over time we cling to attachments and even sinful things. Sometimes it must take us putting some things into the category of “Things I Cannot Do.” Lent is a good time to draw a line in the sand between us and the things that are killing us.
In another sense, to do the right and stop doing the wrong is not Christian. Holiness is not simply a matter of willing it. We rely on grace and the Holy Spirit too. When we admit that we have come up against our inability to perform virtue alone, God will lavish His grace upon us. As we set about fulfilling God’s will, His grace will perfect and sustain us. It is both as simple and difficult as that.
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources