Do it for the heart.

My friend sent me this in response to a question:

Lent isn't like Advent.  I enjoy Advent.  I tolerate (read: do not dislike, but do not relish either) Lent.  Advent is low key, something that many folks outside of Catholicism or Christendom don't even know is happening.   It is the low key and less public nature of Advent that I think is more reasonable than the rather public and emphasized nature of Lent.

Every Ash Wednesday the same readings are said (which is good); the the one about being rewarded for the things you do in private is my favorite, it is the Gospel reading.  I firmly believe in the "actions and activities done in private" being rewarded.  However Lent is not done in private.  It gets news coverage and is very public.  Advent is basically "done in private".  So, we are asked as individuals to conduct our observances of Lent in private, but Lent itself is the most public of special seasons in the Catholic Church.  Seems like a paradox.

What do you think?