If you grew up in the 70s or like golden oldies, you know that “anticipation is making me late.” We are a few days into the Lenten season and I’m thinking about mortification. Mortifi…what?
Mortification: voluntary actions by which we gradually “put to death” all of our vices and sinful habits.
There are things in my life that are not necessary evil, but can distract me and keep me from choosing something better. For me that is social media. So I am giving it up for Lent, and maybe beyond. We’ll see.
Another thing, and this is hard for me since my favorite courses in college were of the political science sort and this being an election year, I find myself obsessing about politics. Not really so good for my soul! I given that up too. I have a feeling the process will continue without me checking in several times a day to find out the latest.
Even with something good like religion, I have to exercise care. I can get upset about certain trends in the Church, but the reality is that it is way above my “pay grade” and truly all I can really do is be faithful to Jesus and pray for my leaders. And I’m committed to be more engaged in prayer.
I’ve listed things that are not bad per se, but how I react to them and let them control me can easily became a vice, even a sinful habit.
So, I invite mortification (from the Latin root morti “death”). It’s not easy to give up these things that have been part of my daily life until up to four days ago. But the bottom line is—mortification will go along way to making me a saint.