Armodoxy for Today: That Little Big Thing – Day 19 of Lent

Estamos en la tercera semana de Cuaresma. Ha sido un buen camino. Hemos tenido tiempo para mirar hacia nuestro interior, para contemplar, meditar y orar. Hemos restringido nuestra dieta, así como nuestras conversaciones ociosas. Nos sentimos bien. Los cambios que estamos haciendo comienzan a impactar a los demás, a nuestras familias, nuestro entorno, nuestro ambiente laboral, nuestras comunidades y, por lo tanto, nuestro mundo.

Ahora comenzamos a entender que los cambios reales provienen del interior. Quizás sea lo único que podemos alterar en este mundo, porque es lo único sobre lo que tenemos control total. Dios pone ese control en nuestras manos. Él nos da esta vida y nos permite vivirla como deseamos.

We conclude this week by looking at one more dimension in the story of the Prodigal Son, namely the ego dimension. You see, all of our difficulties in life stem from the ego. Long before Freud put his finger on the motivators in life, Jesus was pointing sharing the importance of leaving ego behind. We are reminded of Jesus’ words, “He who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.” (John 12)

Observa a las grandes personas que han impactado a la sociedad y a la vida, y que han quedado registradas en la historia de manera muy positiva. Encontrarás algo muy similar en todas sus biografías: han estado dispuestas a sacrificarse. Se han entregado a sí mismas. Ahora, no confundas esto con una baja autoestima o falta de valor propio. Las personas que impactan la vida de manera positiva tienen una imagen muy positiva de sí mismas, pero también están dispuestas a sacrificarse porque esa imagen positiva no es falsa, ni está construida sobre un orgullo falso.

False pride is very easy to acquire. Especially going through some of the Lenten rituals, as we are doing now, it is very easy to confidently boast, “Look at me, I am doing something that others can’t do.” In that statement we forget the reason for the Lenten season. In other words, the means become the focus of our actions rather than the end or goal of our efforts. The goal of Lent is to better ourselves and therefore better our relationships and our world. In the same way, we can think of our dietary restrictions during Lent. There is a reason for us to abstain from animal products. It is not only for the sake of lowering our cholesterol or our weight, but it is to keep things on an even playing field, and understanding what is essential in our lives.

Your act of charity today is to look within and inventory the changes that you’ve noticed over the past few weeks while observing the Lenten season. Fast from what is not necessary in your life.

Get ready to continue tomorrow with more ego talk. Today’s menu serves baked sweet potato wedges, with a recipe below.

We pray St. Nerses Shnorhali’s prayer, (4/24) Son of God, true God who descended from the bosom of the Father and took flesh of the Holy virgin Mary for our salvation, who was crucified and buried and rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. I have sinned against heaven and before you. Remember me like the robber when you come in your kingdom. Have mercy on your creatures and upon me a sinner. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 19: Baked Sweet Potato Wedges

Cover Photo: K.T.Nalik 2009