What do you think? Sharing what we're doing for Lent- good, bad, situational?
Read the article and let me know what you think.
I'll post later on today with a helpful-to-exactly-zero people tutorial about framing up your shot before you snap the picture, but judging by the pitch of the ruckus upstairs, my computer time has come to a swift and probably messy end.
I posted a long comment on the post. I sort of think this is one of those things where we Catholic can get caught up in being too scrupulous and at the same time, possibly, not scrupulous enough. So...middle ground?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your spiritual director is wise and helpful and looks lovely in that sweater, but I think she's a little off on this one. I tell my kids the same concept she told you, but we focus on it in regards to things like not announcing good deeds you've done and not COMPLAINING about sacrifices you've made. But to just dissapear from Facebook with no explanation would be rude and confusing and possibly very worrying to people you know IRL (who can just ask you) and people you don't (who will just have to assume you were devoured by those terrifying animals on your sidebar). And, perhaps she wouldn't have advised you to give up Facebook at all, mine didn't. It's the new evangelization after all! I absolutely blogged about what I'm giving up for Lent , because I think other people might find it helpful. Wouldn't it be odd to have a Catholic blog and not talk about Lent?
ReplyDeleteWait, what??? Where is she getting that information from? You can absolutely share your Lenten discipline without forfeiting any graces! There is a HUGE difference between sharing the information and advertising it for your ego's benefit. I think the stumbling block for your SD is a lack of understanding what social media is and how it works.
ReplyDeleteWhen we offer anything up, we earn graces. Period.
Ahh, but what about intention? The Pharisees surely intended to get earthly rewards from announcing their sacrifices, you intended to be courteous. And if you didn't go on FB for the next 40 days, there's no way you would have received any feedback (earthly reward) about it! To assume another person's intentions (and to condemn them) is to judge.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that anyone who tells anyone what they are giving up for Lent is "forfeiting the graces" is a bunch of poppycock. It all comes down to intentions.
How can anyone one on earth know whether or not someone else's sacrifices aren't meriting any graces? Were you suffering for Christ? Yes. Does that merit grace? Yes. Can sharing your suffering in a humble way void those graces? He's not like the checker at the supermarket saying you didn't buy the right flavor Pringles to redeem the coupon. He sees your suffering and rewards accordingly. All Just. All Merciful. He knows your intentions.
I really tried to post this on the Aletia page, but something won't let me.
I'm going to have to agree with MK and Jessica on this one. Tommy once told me it was not a good idea for me to consider give up fb for Lent, but not because I'd be forfeiting graces. Rather because my use of it pleases others (keeping in touch with family, etc.) and he felt it wouldn't be in keeping with my responsibilities. I am not seeing what "earthly reward" a person gets for being courteous and telling other people why they're offline. I don't know. I'm feeling like if you are challenged and struggling and that unites you with Christ's struggle and your relationship with Him and your vocation is increased, then that's it. That's the thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree it depends on intention. I have never been a fan of disclosing what I am giving up for Lent. For various reasons. It just never felt right. But there are circumstances where it is called for. God knows the difference.
ReplyDeleteBTW I tried to comment on aleteia but it said my birth year is invalid. Obviously because I look way too young for my age...