Offering it up
“Offer it up.”
To this day I can still hear my mother utter this common reply to my siblings and me. It was heard year-round, and garnered increased frequency and urgency during Lent, generally in response to a request for chocolate or some other treat. The message was reinforced by the teachers at our Catholic School, many of them nuns, and, if my memory serves me correctly, the moms of my friends were on board with that messaging as well. It was a little like Dolby Surround Sound for young penitents—you heard the message everywhere. That made sense, especially in the early days of Lent, when readings, lessons and messaging helped shape our (reluctant) resolve to sacrifice.
Today we find ourselves in the early days of Lent, and our Gospel reading reinforces the notion of ‘offer it up,’ stating, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
How interesting it is, though, as an adult, to be able to look at the Lenten season not for what we give up, but with an understanding of what we gain. Both the first reading and the psalm spell it out for us.
Moses tells his people that by simply loving the Lord and walking in His ways, we open the door to the rich and abundant blessings of a long life with the Lord. Our psalm reiterates the promise of blessings.
At Catholic Charities, each and every day we can manifest this very promise! The manner in which we treat those we serve and each other is that genuine discipleship. It is walking in His ways. Whether we are greeting the stranger, serving a meal to the hungry, praying with the imprisoned or visiting with a lonely adult, we are putting today’s readings into action.
How blessed are we? Simply by showing up, by choosing action over indifference, and by seeking to bring dignity, help and hope, we have the opportunity to realize the fullness of God’s riches all year long—not simply for 40 days. If I am being completely honest, I probably still will challenge myself to offer up that chocolate bar, at least on occasion, just because my mom’s words echo long in my head and heart. But gosh, that longing is easily overshadowed by the joy I get to receive each and every day in my work at Catholic Charities. May the journey bring you abundant joy as well!
Ellen T. Wayne, Ed. D, is the CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach.