It's Friday and You're Eating Meat?!

IT'S FRIDAY AND YOU'RE EATING MEAT?!

The Lenten season is practically upon us and I'm bracing myself for the annual onslaught of comments from my Catholic friends.  It starts before Ash Wednesday. I overhear them planning what they will 'give-up' for the next forty days.  Things range from chocolate to cigarettes to beer and soda.  One friend was giving up watching Oprah.

Eating lunch with my Catholic friends suddenly becomes an ordeal.  They bombard me with "Why are you eating a hamburger?  Did you forget?  It's Friday!"  Another will say with a scowl, "You should be eating fish."  And finally, "What did you give up for Lent anyway?" Calmly I'll remind them that I'm not Catholic and I don't have to give-up anything, or eat fish on Fridays, if I don't want to.  They look at me as if I'm the biggest heathen to ever walk the face of the earth.  Then they disregard me and chatter back and forth about the progress they are making with their denials while eating their breaded fish fillets with macaroni and cheese. 

This is when my Lutheran up-bringing kicks-in. I begin with "I am not a Bible expert, so I was wondering, where is the menu section of the Bible?"  They stop their chattering and look at me with dazed confusion.  "What do you mean?"  I continue with "Where does it specifically mention what foods should be eaten during Lent?" Before they can recover I hit them with, "Where does it say that chocolate is a good thing to give-up during Lent?"  (I refuse to believe that God would think that denying yourself the pleasure of chocolate is a good thing any time of year.)  By now they are babbling something about "you have to give-up something you like.  It doesn't have to be chocolate."  I have them on the ropes at this point, but I don't let up.  "Where is it written in the Bible that those who eat fish on Fridays during Lent have a better chance of getting into heaven?"  And finally, the one that knocks them out is, "What is the significance of eating fish on Friday anyway?"  They crumble.  They stutter and stammer and say nothing comprehensible. They have no answers for me.  These are die-hard Catholics who have gone through the Catholic school system and to church every Sunday of their lives since they were baptized.

It amazes me that I never hear them say "I'm giving-up yelling at my family" or "lying" or how about "gossiping"?  Does God really care that you won't eat chocolate for the next forty days when there are so many other "worthwhile" things you could have chosen?  Is eating fish on Friday going to make you a better person?  I thought Lent was about penance?  I think my Catholic friends should consider giving up being judgmental.  Or maybe American Idol.  Then they can study the Bible and have some answers for the next Lutheran who is unlucky enough to have lunch with them during Lent.