Miscellaneous Lenten Thoughts

Inconsiderateness irks; unkindness riles, betrayal angers but it is not better to treat inconsiderateness with patience (with those who are self-absorbed), unkindness with a generous understanding (of human shortcomings) and to consider betrayals as exercises of Free Will (a gift from God)?  These thoughts may not have God's approval because they lack unconditional love by the respondent.

The actor or the respondent who falls short of God's expectations is evidence of one being marked by Original Sin which makes it difficult for one trying to meet them.  Thus, living life in accordance with God's expectations is going to be a constant struggle between impulse and control, with impulse seen as actions originating from the ego by ignoring Christ's teachings and control seen as actions of the ego delayed, by filtering them through the words of Christ.  Even after this filtering, perfection in holiness is seldom achieved without an abundance of God's graces because a sinner is predisposed to sinning repetitively regardless of the occasion.

In this Lenten season, how often has one failed to do the will of God consistently?  How often has one reflected upon the love one has given God by denying oneself, by feeding oneself much less, by drinking much less alcohol, by not abusing drugs, by abstaining from recreational sex, by being more considerate of others, by being kinder to strangers and by being truly honest to oneself by judging one's unadorned self absent all excuses, rationalizations and hidden motives, vanity, self-love, self-promotion and one's ego?

This blogger's answers to the questions posed in the paragraph above are: 1) the failure to do God's will is often enough to be embarrassed, to feel guilty and for the need to go frequently to confession; and 2) the reflection of his love for God always comes after an action has been completed but that is already too late.  The ego's impulse is too strong to be kept under control, too undisciplined and too rash to heed the words of Christ.  All of this do not add up to holiness and therefore the Sacrament of Reconciliation is necessary to lift the heavy burden of sins weighing upon the soul impeding its progress toward its salvation in order to allow it to continue its journey toward God.

This back and forth struggle is an inescapable part of this sinner's life, with Satan actively seeking the ruin of his soul and he trying to escape from its clutches with prayers which help fortify his weaknesses but which do not supplant his Free Will to sin repeatedly.