What did you give up for Lent?

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Jesus' parable of the Sheep and Goats is familiar to us all, I'm sure, but it got me thinking about it's meaning in terms of Lent.

Lent tends to be a season of self-imposed deprivation.  Do we not ask one another, ‘What did you give up for Lent?’

And while it certainly is good to deny ourselves of extras, perhaps our Lenten sacrifices might serve a greater purpose if we seek opportunities to offer mercy or ease suffering.  We can still ‘give up’ things for Lent, but with a different twist. 

What if, for instance, we gave up selfish and self-serving attitudes?

Or what if we gave up seeking more and more when there are others who have so little?

Or what if we gave up feelings of entitlement and deserving a larger portion of the earth’s bounty because of who we are, or where we live, or what we do?

Or what if we gave up our time, talent, and treasure to those who enjoy so few of the luxuries of life that self-denial isn’t a choice for them?

May our Lenten practices serve to assist us to heed God’s charge to Moses to not sit idly by when our neighbor’s life is at stake.  But may they allow us, through all we say and do, to help build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.