Nowadays we all love to be positive; "negative" has
become a kind of bad word. After all, who wouldn't prefer a profit
to a loss, an up to a down, to go forward rather than backward,
a plus to a minus! Until, that is, we go to the doctor with a
suspected illness, when we'd far prefer to test negative than
positive! And that, perhaps, is the better analogy when it comes
to Lent and Penance.
Down through centuries of Christianity,
self-denial was seen as a vital spiritual attitude. "What are you giving up for
Lent”? was a familiar enquiry. Then, some decades ago,
things began to change. "What are you doing for Lent"?
became the new question. "Giving up" was now seen as
negative and passé; "doing" was positive and
worthwhile. Unfortunately, many gave up the "giving up" and
replaced it with nothing. And all penance - that necessary ingredient
of Christian living - got edited out of the spiritual equation.
Yes, self-denial may be negative in itself, but it can be hugely
positive in its effect. To deprive ourselves of what we like
is often beneficial, and even essential, to our well being; and
especially so in the present-day climate of over indulgence and
excess. Giving up, for instance, sweets or cigarettes, alcohol
or too much food, may just as much contribute to our psycho-spiritual
health as benefit our physical condition. It may help us develop
much needed self-control, a quality often dismissed or scorned
today.
No doubt about it, there was a time when
the value of self-denial was overstressed; even to the extent
that God appeared to be
happy with us only when we were miserable. But the pendulum has
well and truly swung. Prevalent attitudes now seem to consider
any curbing of pleasure foolish, restraint a thing of the unenlightened
past, and entertainment that is prurient, immature and immoral
currently has the label "adult" attached. Such attitudes
are inevitably exerting a destructive influence, particularly
on the young. Self-denial is a simple, effective and very healthy
antidote. What more suitable time to embrace it than the present
season of Lent!
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