{"id":549,"date":"2024-02-16T03:33:53","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T11:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/?p=549"},"modified":"2024-04-10T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T22:34:55","slug":"the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/","title":{"rendered":"The Paradox of Lent: Less is More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
\n
\u201cIn the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before Easter).<\/em><\/p>\n
The beginning of the Great Fast for the Byzantine Church differs from other churches in a few ways but the meaning and intent are similar.\u00a0 There isn\u2019t an Ash Wednesday or even ashes, but instead, the Great Fast begins quietly without notice on a Monday, two days before the more well-known Ash Wednesday the same week. <\/em><\/p>\n
We are reminded that giving up certain foods during Lent is merely an exercise if not practiced with spiritual intention.\u00a0 Our fasting is a discipline that enables us to make choices.\u00a0 Through fasting we find we do have the ability to delay gratification, focus our priorities, and become more attuned to things beyond our immediate desires.\u00a0 It is less about giving up than exchanging old patterns for new beneficial ones, less about food than about understanding God\u2019s plan for each of us and following his will.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
-ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH<\/a><\/p>\n
Freely you have received, freely give<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/blockquote>\n*
** *A student can spend their entire life studying, but ultimately they must take the test to determine if they have truly acquired knowledge or if they have simply gone through the motions of reading and writing. If the words and concepts are not internalized, they will soon fade from memory.<\/p>\nThe same can be said for our spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.<\/a> If we engage in these practices for any other reason than a genuine love for Christ, we will not grow in our faith. We may even realize that our time spent in spiritual study and practice was in vain.<\/p>\n
What am I, \u201ctuning into\u201d? What am I allowing to walk through my door (nous\/heart<\/a>)? What is shaping me?<\/p>\n
Do I welcome the chisel of Christ or do I shy from the blows that are meant to refine me?<\/h3>\n***
* In today\u2019s culture, it\u2019s far more tempting to place a band-aid on a gushing wound than take ourselves to a physician. We fear the cost and try and do it ourselves, only to go to the ER as a last resort. Eventually, our wound becomes infected and we need an amputation or surgery.<\/p>\n
* Sin festers in such a way. In our individualistic society, we tend to rely on willpower alone or seek external solutions. All the while internally we are in need of repair.<\/p>\n
* What started as a small crack can turn into countless fragments of shattered glass. Maybe it\u2019s a combination of pride and fear that prevents us from allowing the Lord to heal us.<\/h3>\n
* Afterward, we shall be different, our orientation and way of life will never be the same. Such an encounter will force us to shake off the dust of comfort and complacency. We are to walk into mystery and that\u2019s foreign for those of us who desire certainty.<\/p>\n
* Christ calls us to more, life to the fullest. This \u201cmore\u201d is a product of self denial, of giving away all we have, in order to obtain the Pearl of Great Price. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?<\/p>\n
* The strange thing about self denial and picking up one\u2019s cross is that rather than being masochistic it is a holistic endeavor<\/strong>. We are made whole from the inside out. The one who was once wounded becomes the medic for their fellow pilgrims.<\/p>\n
* Less is truly more.<\/strong><\/p>\n
* You are freed up to give, in the same manner you freely received grace and restoration from our Lord.<\/p>\n
* The world may deem you impoverished but you are a child of the King of Kings. Difficulties will arise, but we must stick to the Royal Road laden with unfathomable riches.<\/p>\n
* Once we begin to \u201ctune in\u201d to God, and get acquainted with the Holy Spirit, the more we get to know the person God created us to be.<\/p>\n
* We are formed daily by our actions and by what we consume or give our attention to. Imagine if the Spirit became our broadcaster, preferred podcast, or teacher.<\/p>\n
* *******Enlighten us that we may know your ways Abba. <\/em><\/h3>\nThat we may mediate on them night and day.<\/em><\/h3>\n
*
* For it is in giving that we receive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSeeds of Contemplation<\/h3>\n "\n\nBefore me lies a path, with shadows covering each twist and turn that lies ahead. Yet, I need not fear the great unknown, as trust, faith, and belief are the crusted rounds on which I dine. I see the face of my beloved shining on everything, like a lighthouse for the weary and weather-beaten pilgrim.<\/li>\nFasting is wonderful, because it tramples our sins like a dirty weed, while it cultivates and raises truth like a flower. \u2013 St. John Chrysostom<\/li>\nHe who gives alms in imitation of God does not discriminate between*
\nthe wicked and the virtuous, the just and the unjust, when providing for
\nmen\u2019s bodily needs. He gives equally to all according to their need. -St. Maximus the Confessor<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\nWater: Prayer of St. Ephrem<\/h3>\n "****
** O Lord and Master of my life,
\nSpare me from the spirit of apathy and meddling,
\nOf idle chatter and love of power.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
** "
** Instead, grant to me, Your servant,
\nThe spirit of integrity and humility,
\nOf patience and love.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
** "
** Yes, O Lord and God,
\nGrant me the grace to be aware of my sins
\nAnd not to judge others,<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
** "
** For You are blessed,
\nNow and forever.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
** "
** Amen<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
** "
** O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
\nO God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
\nO Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned without number<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
** \u201cIn the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before Easter). The beginning of the Great Fast for the Byzantine Church differs from other churches in a few ways but the meaning and intent are similar.\u00a0 There […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5375,"featured_media":645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[171,174,180,168,177],"class_list":["post-549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-contemplative","tag-ash-wednesday","tag-eastern-catholic","tag-eastern-orthodox","tag-lent","tag-pascha"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Paradox of Lent: Less is More<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\""In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Paradox of Lent: Less is More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\""In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pilgrim & Scarlet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-16T11:33:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-04-10T22:34:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/2093\/2024\/02\/img_8160-3-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"761\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1049\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"HJ Sandigo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"HJ Sandigo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/\",\"name\":\"The Paradox of Lent: Less is More\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-16T11:33:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-04-10T22:34:55+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/#\/schema\/person\/34a3ad7ed33a82a497c545c624b6fa80\"},\"description\":\"\\\"In the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Great Fast is the name given to the Lenten period, the six weeks before Great and Holy Week (the final week before\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/2024\/02\/the-paradox-of-lent-less-is-more\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Paradox of Lent: Less is More\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pilgrimandscarlet\/\",\"name\":\"Pilgrim & Scarlet\",\"description\":\"Pilgrim & Scarlet explores the physical and spiritual dimensions of pilgrimages, which enable seekers to connect with both God and fellow wayfayers. 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