The Uncomfortable Truth

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the first day of Lent. A time of sacrifice for Catholics and many others. As a recovering Catholic, Lent holds a special wonder for me. I’m still asked, “What are you giving up for Lent?”
Such a ritual.
Once upon a time, giving something up for Lent was not only easier, it was good dairy-animal husbandry.
Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church ran everything in France. French farmers knew, as all farmers do, that they had to stop milking their cows sixty days before they gave birth, as it’s not good for the cow. When the cows were dried off, the last of the milk was processed into butter, cream, and cheese. When these fats were gone, that was it for a few weeks. Since calves are most always born in the spring—around Easter--the cows would be dried off about two weeks before the start of Lent. The processed fats could be kept in a springhouse for just about two weeks. On the Tuesday (Mardi) before Lent, the last of the fats (Gras) would be eaten. “Giving up” fats for Lent was what everyone did.
It’s not much of a sacrifice if you can’t get it anyway.
I’m not opposed to a little self-sacrifice. If you believe, as I do, that the man known also as Y’shua bar Yusef is the son of God; that he is the Messiah (or Christ if you prefer the Greek), then you’re aware of the sacrifice He made for you. What goes around should come around.
Jesus was a big believer in Karma. I submit He studied Buddhism.
It has been explained to me once or twice, that Lent is also about reflection. Reflection on how we fit into God’s plan.
In the last several months, I’ve been reflecting on where I fit in. I’ve been studying the Bible and other books. From what I’ve read, Jesus was opposed to organized religion as it was practiced then—and now. Religious opposition had Him killed!
If someone showed up today, teaching us not to judge others--to accept others as God made them; chastising the hypocrites, decrying rituals and phylacteries, preaching love and an end to war, where would he or she end up? Wrong.
Crucifixion isn’t practiced anymore. But you get the point.
It doesn’t make sense to me how people can call themselves Christian and still participate in something Christ opposed.
The more I reflect upon God, His Son, and The Message, the more convinced I become that what we should all give up for Lent is
religion.