What happens if I give up on my lent?

[Miguel Escobar]

I gave up YouTube, Facebook, Chatango, and Skype for lent. Basically, no social media for 40 days. I'm on the end of my second week and I still have three weeks to go. I seriously want to go back and check all my notifications, messages, and all those PewDiePie videos that I missed!! (I probably missed like 50 videos of Pewds lol).

In a religious point of view, what happens if I give up on what I gave up?

This is my first time to actually hold on to what I gave up, because last time I couldn't even lat three days.

[anonymous]

Follow your primal instincts man, you need to communicate

[dbucx]

nothing. absolutely nothing what so ever will happen if you give up. your life will just go back to normal. omg like so much nothing will happen its insane. like literally there will be an absolute of 0 that is ZERO consequences from you doing this. like so much nothing omg just..omg

[Fr. Alexander]

That's between you and God - but remember the admonishments of the Scriptures - "God will not be mocked!"


If you have Promised the Lord - then failure to keep this promise when it is within your power - is a grave sin. If you didn't promise but were merely trying to come closer to God through prayer, fasting (in this case fasting from social media) and other forms of struggle - then you will not receive the full benefit of this sacrifice if you stop now but God will certainly honor the intention.

Here is how the Orthodox Christians of the world view Fasting before Easter (Pascha) as best captured in the Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom


IF any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.

Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

[847]

Is not Yahoo a form of social media?

[Dr Yes]

You can't give up on lint. It will just build up in your belly button.