Lent For The Weary: A Season Of Mercy, Not Perfection

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Lent may not be as enticing for many as Christmas. With Christmas, we can anticipate a happy season filled with gifts, reunions and other celebrations. With Lent, however, our initial thoughts could often be those of penance, sacrifices and hardships.

As Christians, we know that without Lent, Christmas would be incomplete. But this does not take away the feeling of heaviness for those of us who are already going through a difficult season of our own.

Must we perform more acts of penance in addition to the ones we’re having in our lives? Must we sacrifice even more when our hearts are already grieving and our eyes are filled with tears?

When You Are Tired From the Very Beginning

God knows who among us begins Lent with a heart that is already tired and aching. We have spent the whole year trying our very best and failing again and again. We strive to always do what is right, only to be faced with our weaknesses. And we constantly faced a secular world that challenges our faith, telling us to seek happiness elsewhere, questioning the value of our sacrifices.

Jesus Himself knew what it’s like to be broken, abandoned and tired. He is not the One to judge us for our wounds.

When we look up at the cross, we must realize that Lent was never meant only for the strong. Lent is God reaching out to us and accompanying us in our difficult journey.

God Understands Our Pain

While the joy of Christmas could make some of us feel as though our tears have no place there, the solemness of Lent reminds us that we have no need to hide our hurts.

Ours is a wounded Lord who did not hide His wounds from us. He let everyone see the consequences of sin.

We, too, may have been wounded by the world. We have carried our crosses. And we have felt abandoned.

The ashes of Ash Wednesday remind us of our mortality and the fleetingness of life. Amid this darkness, Jesus comes so that by His wounds, we may be healed.

God Is Closer Than We Think

Joyful times could make us forget altogether about God. We could be so busy thinking of the next party or activity that we no longer have time to pray deeply.

In the quietness of Lent, however, God draws us closer to Himself.

“Be still and know that I am God!” – Psalm 46:11 (NABRE)

He is waiting for us to come to Him and pour out the deepest cries of our hearts.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
saves those whose spirit is crushed.”
-Psalm 34:19 (NABRE)

What Sacrifice Can You Offer Him?

God will never ask for anything that we never have. If God asks something from us, it is because He knows we can give Him something.

We need not look too far for sacrifices. Sometimes, all we need is the sacrifice of taking a moment to pray before His presence. Sometimes, it is the willingness to cry and pour out our hearts, trusting there is someone who listens and cares.

Surrender is something that we can all do. And God is there, embracing us where we are.

St. Faustina once had a conversation with Jesus in a similar light. When St. Faustina was wondering about what she could possibly offer Jesus, His response was:

“For you, I am mercy itself; therefore, I ask you to offer Me your misery and this very helplessness of yours and, in this way, you will delight My Heart.”

God never meant us to carry burdens that are more than we can bear. Even during Lent, God’s invitation for rest remains.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NABRE)