Since it’s the lenten season, Catholics usually abstain from eating meat every Friday. Why? Well, the idea behind this is to sacrifice or give up those that give us pleasure. Eating meat is pleasurable for most so this is one of the things we can abstain from.

Catholics are not limited to meat only. We can also abstain from something we really enjoy like checking our Facebook for a couple of hours a day. We can also, for example, trim the hours of internet use from 5 hours to 1 hour or lessen our sweets intake if we are really a lover of desserts. We can also stop gossiping, stop our vices like smoking, gambling, or drinking. These things are all for our good.

There are so many ways we can do sacrifice for lent. We need to be ready whole-heartedly to give them up and eventually improve ourselves. Of course these sacrifices should not only be time-bound. They aim to improve us further on as children of God. So this means that it’s best to practice moderation or discipline or totally eliminate the bad habits altogether after lent.

We do not just showcase these sacrifices for others to see in social media. It should be an innate transformation for the better aided by material sacrifices that should be happening to us during lent. So let’s take time to slow down, pause, and reflect despite our busy schedules. It’s actually best to attend a retreat yearly so we can reflect on our lives and have time alone from God. Take a few minutes everyday to be silent and also talk to God.

For those abstaining from meat, here’s a quick dish you can try:

Ingredients: 

• 2 cans of canned tuna (preferably in vegetable oil but you may also use tuna in brine or in water)
• half of medium sized onion (chopped)
• salt and pepper to taste
• mixed vegetables (small pack)
• cooking oil

Procedure:

1. In a pan, heat oil and sauté the onion.
2. Add the tuna, mix and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Add the mixed veggies, salt, and pepper, mix and simmer for 5-7 minutes.
4. Share and enjoy!

That’s was so fast and easy right?

“Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation” – Saint Augustine

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend! 🙂

~Tina~