It happened again this year. Christmas came and went, and life marched on at the crazy, ever-increasing pace that it always seems to, and then BLAMMO! Lent is here. If you are like me, that seems impossible. And yet, here we are. It is Ash Wednesday.

At this point, most Catholic elementary school kids have earnestly given up chocolate, candy, ice cream or some other treat. Some brave adults have given up coffee, or some other such thing, and Catholic families across the land have reintroduced fish sticks to the family table. It is beautiful.

But why do we do it? What is the point?

Well, fasting is a practice that has a couple purposes. One, we learn to deny ourselves. By fasting we train ourselves to say no to something that we want. Self-denial is not an easy thing, and fasting is a way to practice it when the stakes are relatively low. A regular practice of fasting increases our ability to say no when the stakes are higher. When temptation comes that we are not expecting, if we have practiced self-denial, then we have exercised those muscles.

Fasting also prepares us for suffering. When I intentionally force myself to go through something hard, I am entering into a discipline that is teaching me how to deal with the struggle. Giving up coffee, or hot showers, or television can be very hard. Thre is suffering in it. By allowing myself to suffer through something intentionally, I am preparing myself for times when suffering comes uninvited.

Fasting also allows us to join our sacrifices to those of Christ, asking that they are offered for the sake of other people, as he offered his life for ours. So, the mild discomfort of not going on social media can be offered for a soul in purgatory, or for the holiness of children, or for a loved one who has fallen away from the Church. And, again, this practice, also teaches us how we can offer up our suffering when it is not something we have chosen.

Fasting can do all of these things. It can be an incredibly effective medicine for the soul. Or, not. "I'm giving up fast food" can be nothing more than an economic or dietary restriction. The difference is prayer. It is the intentional decision each time to pray and make an offering.

This Lent let fasting change you. Let it strengthen you and prepare you. In this season, ask the Lord to take your little offering and join it to his, for His purpose.