Lent: With One VoiceSample

LESS IS MORE

I once knew a girl who loved pink accessories: bows, barrettes, pop-beads, shrugs, tights, shoes, handbags, and feather boas. And of course she wore them all at once. Her father’s mantra was, ‘Sweetheart, sometimes less is more.’ Modernity encourages the more, yet Jesus reminds us that less is more. If your ‘hand'-it-over attitude causes you to sin, cut if off. If your ‘foot’-ball addiction causes you to sin, cut it out. If your ‘eye’-pod causes you to sin, pluck it out. It’s better to enter the kingdom of God without the behaviors you like, than it is to spend eternity in a place you won’t like.

And if we’re able to cut out the stuff that we enjoy but isn’t life-giving to ourselves or others, then we’re better prepared for the more difficult fire-tests of faith that are sure to come. We’ll be well outfitted, able to live at peace with others, and knowing when enough is enough.

FOR REFLECTION
• What thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors are most gaudy to God in your life today?
• Whom might you ask to partner with you in praying for God’s help to cut off or pluck out those things from your life?

PRAYER
Anima Christi: Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from You. From the wicked foe, defend me. At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to You that with Your saints I may praise You forever and ever. Amen.