There are plenty of reasons why I’m lousy at Lent. A prayer period missed. An angry outburst at my daughters. Too much food on a day of fasting. A blind eye toward those in need. I easily grow frustrated with myself. Perhaps you do too.
Today’s readings encourage us to remember that Lent is a journey. Isaiah invites us to “make justice our aim.” Sounds like justice is still a ways down the path! Good thing, because we have wrongs to redress, sins to scrub clean, the cries of those in need to respond to. We’re not going to be perfect every time. But what we can do consistently is keep going.
Justice is a righting of relationships. We are challenged to give to each person that which they require to live a full and flourishing life. That quite likely means a reordering of relationships—of how we exist together in community.
Jesus paints a compelling picture for how this should look: we are to be one another’s servants, called to follow Christ’s path of humility. Humble servants know they are not in control. They can only respond as best they can to the needs of those they love. Humility means accepting necessary limitations, inevitable failures.
As we continue through Lent, let’s give up tying those heavy burdens around ourselves and others. Let’s instead realize that justice requires recognizing that we need to treat ourselves with humility and compassion—and then do unto others as we have done to ourselves.

Eric Clayton

Eric Clayton is deputy director for communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. He is the author of Cannonball Moments: Telling Your Story, Deepening Your Faith. Learn more at ericclaytonwrites.com.