Suffering, Mortification or Giving It Up for God

Part of a series of pre-written, scheduled posts. I hope to get enough time to de-spam any comments, but don't expect to have time to respond, and the posts will lack in links.

The clumsy title is to cover all the various ways to phrase the topic-- which, honestly, is unsuited to the Easter season, so I hope I get to a connection before the Holy day. This is also not researched as I prefer, as my sister's house is somewhat lacking in theology textbooks or a nice, organized collection of Apologists. So you've just got my horrible phrasing and A, C, Q explanations. ^.^

Matthew 9:14-15
Then the disciples of John approached him and said, "why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?"  Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests morn when the bridegroom is with them?  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. The New American Bible, c Catholic Biblical Association, 1969

 Mortification, in this context, means any action that puts unnecessary stress on the body, generally for religious reasons, to symbolically 'take up the cross and follow Him.'  Lack of sleep, fasting, discomfort (for example, a hair shirt), physical damage.  (Some folks even crucify themselves.  Sounds a bit far too me....)

Luke 4:1-2
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert.  He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The New American Bible, c Catholic Biblical Association, 1969

Abstaining, or giving something up (often for Lent), is a sort of mental form of mortification-- generally, you give up something you enjoy greatly, something you love.  Self-denial, in a phrase.

Luke 18:29-30
He said to them, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive [back] an overabundant return in this present age and eternal life in the age to come. The New American Bible, c Catholic Biblical Association, 1969

If you visit the Anchoress' place (First Things blog, a search engine should take you right there) she can go into "offering up" physical pain, like migraines-- it's sort of related, but more her thing.  Same theory, though-- it's bearing a cross.

Matthew 18:7- 8
Woe to the world because of things that cause sin!  Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!  If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippld than with two hands or two feet to be throw into eternal fire. The New American Bible, c Catholic Biblical Association, 1969

Keep in mind, there doesn't have to be only one reason for an action. Ideally, there should be many-- even if they are big ones, ie, feed the poor because Jesus said to, and because it shows love, and because it's the best way to help them at this time.

Jesus himself fasted, and mentioned that his followers would fast when he was taken away, so there is nothing inherently un-Christian about self-denial.
(Don't forget the Apostles falling asleep when they were supposed to be praying or watching, and how they were scolded for their lack of discipline.)

The symbolism of "sackcloth and ashes" should be familiar to anyone who's got passing familiarity with the Bible-- a way for someone not familiar with giving things up for Lent to understand the custom is, this is sackcloth and ashes that doesn't put on a public show.  Rather than rending your clothes, you rend your desires, I guess you might say.

Fast from what you hunger for in this world.  A hair shirt worn invisible below your other clothes, a string of dedication to remind you to be holy, a penance for your sins.

Often, the giving it up is accompanied by a complementary good deed-- you give up eating out, and give the money you save to a soup kitchen.  Some have it inherent as part of the sacrifice-- if you greatly value your free time, you might "sacrifice" it to visit folks in a hospital.  A goodly number of Catholic bloggers give up blogging and spend the time in prayer; Jimmy Akins is posting every day. (He's a Catholic theologian, so that's kind of like resolving to give free labor every day at your job-- tax prep for the poor if your an accountant, for example.)

Sometimes, a behavior modification is taken on--someone prone to using a sharp tongue might resolve to guard it more closely.   (I don't like strictly behavior related ones, or ones that are relative, but that may be because I don't trust myself not to lie to myself.  Desire can make a LOT of things seem reasonable, especially if you pick something counter to your baser desires.)

Depending on what you're doing, it might be fitting to use it as a tool for witnessing-- although, natch, you have to watch that it doesn't become "oh, look at me, I'm so holy," but you also don't want to let a chance to evangelize pass by; kinda like any other religious observance, really-- you have to keep an eye on the proper motivation.