Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Soulfulness
Soulfulness
A question that comes up around this time of year (and I was asked this recently by one of our teenagers) is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” And of course, there’s a whole slew of items to give up: candy, alcohol, a certain TV show, snacking, gossiping, social media, caffeine, processed foods, meat, complaining, negative talk, video games, screen time, overeating, unnecessary spending, worry, anxiety, self-indulgent activities, or a or hobby.
You get the idea. Now, all of those are great, and yes, you should give them up... but all of them are only a start! And any of them can become “dynamite” that blows up your entire purpose for Lent. For example, you might give up snacking at night, but then you become a grumpy person that no one wants around. You might give up alcohol, but then you become a “dry drunk” and start overindulging in something else. You might focus too much on your “sacrifice” and become self-righteous (or holier-than-thou).
Here's what I recommend for Lent… focus on becoming more “soulful.” Now, what do I mean by your soulfulness? That is NOT your soul that is going to heaven or hell when you die, but your soulfulness is your depth, your core. Like someone who is playing jazz saxophone really well, and we say, “Wow, he is playing with a lot of soul.”
Being soulful, according to Thomas Moore, is all about diving deep into life with heart and authenticity. It’s about embracing your emotions, creativity, and the beautiful messiness of being human. Soulful living means finding magic in the everyday, honoring both the highs and lows, and connecting with the world around you in a way that feels truly alive and meaningful. It’s not about perfection—it’s about being real and letting your spirit shine!
Yes, do the giving up, do the sacrifice, but look at it as ONLY a starting point. Heck, so many are losing their sense of civility or care for the common good. So many are just becoming rude and insensitive. And maybe you have, too.
Well… use these 40+ days as a “wake-up” call. A time to reimagine your purpose in life. A time to become a better you. And I would say, attend to your soulfulness.
It can start with that thing you are giving up. Right on, but don’t stop there. Develop yourself more like Jesus recommended in the gospel with fasting, almsgiving, and praying, BUT do those in private as Jesus recommends. You don’t need to tell everyone what you’re working on. You don’t need to brag about your “sacrifice.”
The purpose of Lent is to go deeper: we give up these things to make more room for God. We fast to develop a real hunger for Him—that is, to empty ourselves of what doesn’t serve us—so that we can begin to see what really matters. And the result is that you become a person more aware and concerned about others.
I don’t care if you don’t have one piece of candy during these next 40+. Big deal. Questions to ask at Easter . . . Were you kind? Did you appreciate beauty? Did you forgive that person you’re still holding a grudge against?
In the Sunday Mpls Star Tribune this past Sunday, it stated that according to Pew Research Center, 86% of Minnesotans say they believe they have a soul (or spirit). That’s wonderful. Come to church and help us deepen your soul with all our programs and especially Mass. This Lent, I challenge you: Don’t just give up something—take something on. Maybe it's a deeper commitment to prayer, more intentional acts of kindness, or a new form of service to others As you look to Lent, ask yourself, “How will you make this Lent different?”
