We listen to God’s Word read in our worship services so that it can come into our ears from outside of us.

The gifts of God come to us from outside of us (the fancy Latin term there is “extra nos,”). I don’t think that’s really the kind of sorrow I’m supposed to be feeling. More like self-pity. But most of the time, I’m just feeling guilty for being so weak as to not be able to participate in the season as I think I should, and like everyone else does. I know we’re supposed to be repentant, feeling sorrow for our sins and contemplating Christ’s sufferings. Oh, I can do reasonably well for a few days, but then it’s almost always back to what suits my mood and desires at the time. I rebel against any and all constraints put on my freedom - even just to follow through with the basic necessities of life and have things scheduled on my calendar.

As people are posting on social media about what they’re giving up (sometimes social media!), what they’re adding, what they’re doing to try and practice some penitent self-control through the season of Lent, this fact becomes all the more clear. From Sandra Ostapowich, The Imposition of Repentance | Baptizatus Sum: