You had it right about the sacrifice that God, in the person of Jesus, made on the cross. And it surely did hurt a lot. The agony wasn’t all physical either.
When a Christian gives up, or does something extra for Lent, it is the smallest possible reflection of the sacrifice that was made for us all. When I have to pass up the fried chicken(I gave up meat, and it’s my fave) it reminds me once again of the greater sacrifice.
That we sometimes kid about it, especially this close to the wire, doesn’t mean we view what was done for us lightly.
Rilchiam, try to hang in there and resist the temptation. I know of which I speak. I used to drink 3-4 cups a day of high test coffee, regular iced tea and at least a 6-pack of diet sodas with caffein in everything. No matter how much I drank, I always felt thirsty and the beverages I drank tasted salty. Try to drink as much water as possible. If you must succumb, try to find diet sodas with no caffein. Nowadays, I drink 1-2 cups of decaf coffee, decaf iced tea and maybe 1 diet soda with no caffein and all the water I can pound down. I don’t feel bloated, thirsty and uncomfortable; and I don’t get caffein headaches anymore. You have my sympathy; it’s a tough habit to break.
Yeah, now that you mention it, my thirst did seem to be cumulative.
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Thank you! I’m not giving this up forever, just for Lent. But when it’s over, I am going to add water and juice to my repertoire. I’m going to balance it: juice is tasty and nutritious, but too much makes me bloated.
Okay, I understand this. So what one is saying is that I acknowledge that Jesus experienced agony for our greater good. At lent, Catholics give up something to remind them of that sacrifice. Given the depth of the sacrifice that Jesus made, I find it surprising that anyone has a problem giving up caffiene or chicken or soda, etc. for a mere 40 days.
untateve, since, by your own admission you are not religious, I don’t think you are in any position to criticize how successfully someone else chooses celebrate their faith.
As Jesus said “Do not look at the speck in your brother’s eye when you have a log in your own”
untateve , I would like to respond to you again but I think I would have to start doing more of what is called, on these boards, “witnessing”, and according to the rules that belongs in Great Debates. But I don’t think I should hijack this thread any more. I would be happy to correspond by email and explain my position. In case you don’t want GD or email I will make one quick observation. The reason a person might have trouble giving up something, even given what was done for us, is that we are weak and imperfect.
I realize I am beginning to hijack this thread and I don’t want to do so. However, Zyada, simply because one does participate in a certain organization, does not mean one cannot criticize it. I am a registered independent and criticize the two major parties. Simply because I am not religious does not then imply I cannot offer criticism.
This is a discussion I have had with my wife, who is Catholic. I have some understanding of the Catholic faith. For example, because I have not been baptized, I know that strict interpretation of the Catholic religion indicates that I am looking at eternal damnation.
I also understand that the basic tenet of Catholicism, and most other religions, is help others and do the right thing. I am in agreement with the basic tenet.
Good for you, Rilchiam !!! I’ve made it without meat too. Unless you count the bite of salad I had that I was unaware had bacon bits in it(not sure if they were artificial or not!) Not long to go now.
Now it’s really late for this, but I wanted to affirm what stargazer wrote, so you’ll know for next year. You don’t have to abstain from anything on Sundays.
“Some people mistakenly think that the “40 days of Lent” include the Sundays. Were we to count from Ash Wednesday, including each Sunday, we would find that the 40th day would fall on Palm Sunday! But this is not so. The Sundays are undeniably part of the Lenten season, but they are not part of the penitential 40 days of Lent. Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation; the Day of Rest; the Lord’s Day. Catholics have never been obliged to fast on such days. When we count from Ash Wednesday and EXCLUDE all Sundays, we find that the 40th day is Holy Saturday, the day before Our Lord’s resurrection, as it should be. The 40 days of penance and mortification are fulfilled without being contiguous.”
But I’m still not going to have any of the Pepsi One or cherry pop that I bought, until the morning, because it wouldn’t be fair to Mr. Rilch. He gave up fast food, and since he can’t get a hamburger or taco after midnight in this neighborhood, I won’t break my fast before he can.