What are you giving up for Lent? - Page 3

so then does that make me disrespectful for 'giving' something up for 40 days? Just given that I am jewish?

I kind of struggle with the deep philosophical meanings as well, and Odoreater's recent posts re: his own fasting experiences have made me reconsider my own perception of what fasting has to do with spiritual improvement. Will I follow in his footsteps? Probably not this time around.

I think a lot of our fasting ritual of today is more a watered-down token of penance designed just to keep people "in the loop" and not to actually incite thought or deep revelations about one's faith.

Nice article on modern Lent:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-...0,320689.story

I didn't understand yachtie's post last night but this thread has clued me in. Guess it's a lent thing.

So Catholics have a choice in what they give up for lent?

I was raised Greek Orthodox and we aren't given a choice during lent. No meat or dairy products for 40 days.

I think the Catholics were subject to the same rules way back when. At least my Catholic childhood friends were. Or their parents were operating under a set of regulations that were no longer in effect.

It used to be no meat, now it's just on Fridays.

The sacrifice is symbolic, like eating a wafer called the body of Christ.. For most people, the thinking is to really give up something that will be uncomfortable (for example, I should be giving up cigars, but I am not), but it has evolved, like much else in the American practice of Catholicism, into a symbolic gesture designed to be as easy as possible to make..

I haven't sacrificed anything during lent for years although a lot of my friends do. What they usually forgo are small things that they take pleasure in- soda and junk food are quite popular actually. Kyle's question is brilliant- and I too have wondered that myself. But then if it is a way for people, specially at this day and age, to learn what sacrifice means then I am all for it. Hmmm... maybe I WILL do this again this year, just have to decide what to forgo. BTW, thanks to Lent we have been enjoying quality German and Belgian beer. Monks brewed their own as nutrition during fasting for Lent.

I skimmed it and pretty much...yeah.

Welcome.

***

Quite frankly, I agree with kwilk's post and don't see the point in it. Then again, I'm a non-practicing Roman Catholic. Did my 2 years of classes, got confirmed and then didn't really see the point in religion.

Despite being in a Catholic hospital where they were handing out ash left and right, I didn't bother getting any on my forehead either.

No Disrespect meant, please do not take it in any way other than this being a great Lent joke:

"An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.

An hour later, the man has finished the three beers and orders three more. This happens yet again.

The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire town is whispering about the Man Who Orders Three Beers.

Finally, a week later, the bartender broaches the subject on behalf of the town. "I don't mean to pry, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers?" 'Tis odd, isn't it?" the man replies, "You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond."

The bartender and the whole town was pleased with this answer, and soon the Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and source of pride to the hamlet, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.

Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the evening - he orders only two beers. The word flies around town. Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the brothers.

The next day, the bartender says to the man, "Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know-the two beers and all..."

The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, "You'll be happy to hear that my two brothers are alive and well. It's just that I, meself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent."

I think I'll give up being a jerk and being impatient. A student had been trying to get me to go to an InterVarsity meeting on campus. I'd heard good things about it and wanted to but never did. Finally did tonight. Was good. Part of it was a reading and discussion of Acts ch 1. We were to meditate on and discuss passages or words stuck out to us. The one that did most to me was, "but wait..." I read the rest of the ch. through those words. Wait. Wait for the Holy Spirit to descend on you. Wait for the coming Kingdom of God. Wait for the message to reach all the ends of the earth. Wait for the coming again of Jesus. I'm too impatient -- in traffic, at work, personal life, etc. I need to be patient. Good thoughts and Qs, K. I think it all matters. You're right that fasting should be a participation for and participation in Christ's temptation, passion, and death. But I think that giving up little things can be important, particularly if those little things mean a great deal to someone. Pop, coke, or what I'd call soft drinks can be little to you or me, but they can be great addictions to people. The way I would connect fasting (even of small things) to preparing for the death and resurrection is this: Jesus is God (or so we believe). Many things in our lives can take the place of God. These things are called idols. They are things we give an inordinate amount of value, time, attention, and other resources to. This can be soda for one, chocolate for another, Styleforum for a third, and impatience for me. If we give up anything that we overvalue, that makes room in our hearts and our lives for God, and it's a great preparation for Easter, imo.

No meat pies at the tuck shop at school for the entire period.

Why wait? Easter's the best time.
I'd say probably, and it may make your son a better one. I wish my dad had spent more time playing ball w/ us. I think doing something positive would be just as good as giving up something, and you'll be giving up something else by spending time w/ him. No?

One year I gave up giving things up for Lent. That can be good, particularly if one thinks of it as a celebration of the good things God has given, a thanksgiving. (btw, when I did that I'd been giving something up each month for a year. So Lent functioned that year like what CBDB said Sundays function as during Lent. Although, I'm not sure that's true...)

Neither weird nor bad, imo
I agree. Spirituality includes all aspects of the self.
Great point. Thanks.
Not at all. I think it's great.

Woah...

Are you sure you're Catholic? As Catholics, we believe the Eucharist is NOT a symbol. It is the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus.