Lent begins this Wednesday. The ancient and venerable 40 days is celebrated with prayer, fasting and good deeds in preparation for Easter.
Imitating our Lord’s trials in the desert, the church calls upon all of us, and especially all Christians, to do something unpleasant in the service of good.
We all have habits in need of changing and a will that need toughening. The Catholic Church in all its wisdom has ordained a particular season in which it says, “Delay no more; now is the appointed time. Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
So throw down the soft garments of the procrastinator and cast yourselves against the cold waves you know you must face, realizing that millions are in your company.
What is your greatest fault? Is gluttony weighing you down? Is Facebook devouring your life? Is your ego scraping against everyone you walk by? Or are your animal instincts prodding you into shameful acts?
We all have problems; let each of us decide what the biggest one is and address it now.
And why all this food, all these cookies and chips and overpriced snacks and piles of food at the cafeteria, half of which you throw away?
You don’t need so much; give it up; a bit of hunger won’t hurt you.
If you like your religion to be biblically-based, think of how much Christ fasted.
Aside from the health benefits, this sacrificial act has been regarded for centuries as an excellent means to generate willpower.
In particular, the meat of warm-blooded animals was once prohibited during this time — the most inefficient source of calories.
Forty meatless days in America would help to drag down the record food prices that are now gulping down the wealth of millions.
To encourage fidelity to whatever task you set yourself, or if you think you’ll wither away from lack of protein, remember how Lent used to be.
There was no meat, eggs or dairy allowed, and you could eat only once, after sunset. Yet brawny farmers out plowing their fields somehow struggled through it year after year, and most of us have some of their genes.
Here are the rules. Make some resolution, begin it on Ash Wednesday and keep it through Holy Saturday – excluding Sundays.
Make your resolution specific and concrete — not “I’m going to be a nice guy,” but instead, more like “I’m going to stop playing my music so loud that my roommate punches me in the face.”
Preferably, make at least one positive and one negative resolution — one to do something, and one not to do something.
If you’re Christian, remember that Easter begins on Easter.
You wouldn’t exhibit foolishness and a lack of self-control when you begin celebrating for an anniversary that hasn’t actually occurred yet. Just like an overexcited little boy who can’t wait until Christmas to open his presents, you are missing the point of the holiday.
Now is the time. Millions are joining in an effort to improve themselves during this holy season. Why do we hold back? Why do we refuse to advance in virtue?
If not now, when is it that we plan to begin rooting out the vices that grow up ever larger within the gardens of our souls? Or will we keep waiting for a more convenient time, until our own strength can do nothing against them?
Let’s start now with a trowel, lest we come back next year and find we need a bulldozer.
— Gerard Keiser, linguistics and classical languages junior
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DancingTableLeg 1 year, 2 months ago
lol religion
commentah 1 year, 2 months ago
newsworthiness fail
sandra 1 year, 2 months ago
This is laughable. I am embarrassed for this guy. We have brawny farmer in our genes? WTF does that even mean?
Why were the editors cruel enough to publish this? Shame on you for allowing this poor misguided young man to publicly humiliate himself.
Ducky 1 year, 2 months ago
What is this? A column in the OU Daily about religion that doesn't mention the Westboro Baptist Church? I didn't even see the words "homosexual" or "abortion" once. This can't be.
By the way, this can't be a "newsworthiness fail". This is an opinion piece because this is actually the opinion section. It isn't the news section.
I love how if you write anything positive or encouraging in the OU Daily, you get crucified. All Mr. Keiser is saying is that this time of year is a season for Christians to reflect and make an extra effort to grow spiritually. He went on to state that everyone could benefit from making such an effort. Is that really so bad?
It is an opinion piece, and he stated his opinion in a rather respectful way. If you don't like it, move on with your day, but spare the vitriolic, cynical comments.
sandra 1 year, 2 months ago
Crucified?! GOOD FRIDAY LOLZ