Lent Lessons from Exodus 90

If you are a man who wants a more fulfilling life, you might consider joining or starting an Exodus 90 program in your parish.

Exodus 90 is a program for men that consists of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. It shares the penitential aspect of the season of Lent and provides a lot of lessons into the liturgical season. The program starts in January, giving one a head start into Lent.

Back in 2020, life was not quite difficult enough, so I decided to join my parish’s Exodus 90 group. This year, I joined the group again. Both experiences have taught me spiritual lessons for which I am very grateful. In sharing these lessons, I encourage any man to give a solid try to Exodus 90.

Those Cold Showers

One of the disciplines Exodus 90 encourages is taking cold showers.  Three years ago, I dreaded those cold showers. The temperature dial on my shower inched closer and closer to lukewarm as the days progressed. By about day 70, my resolve crumbled and I threw this discipline out the window.

This year, I experienced something totally different and unexpected. Over Christmas vacation, I took a few cold showers to lessen the shock of Exodus 90. After the first cold shower, I realized two things: that I needed the mortification and that my difficulty with it from three years ago was primarily mental. By the grace of God, the mental block was no more. It was as if God said, with Me you can do hard things.

Even the most passive internet search of inspirational Bible quotes should have convinced me of this ages ago. Ironically, one of my earliest-memorized verses was “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Why was it such a surprise? I am grateful for the lesson, no matter how slow of a learner I am.

Despite never coming to like cold showers, they are not so awful to justify jettisoning the rest. Do not let this discipline be a hindrance!

Mind Games

Just as I had a mental block against cold showers, I also found myself having difficulties with some of the other disciplines. Exodus 90 restricts internet and smart phone usage to essential tasks only.  Desserts and snacking between meals are also off the table, in all senses of the word.

My attachment to eating has been shown to me in a flashing, neon sign each time I try to fast. And this year, I noticed a funny thing happening – I started to get frustrated at the fasting. Not at God, not at myself, not at the Exodus 90 app or the program. I directed my irritation at something abstract! It was a master ploy by the evil one to get my anger flowing at something that could never answer back.

The implicit lesson that comes along with fasting is in human anthropology. That is, the very definition of what it means to be human. More specifically, our species is a God-given, beautiful, and mysterious composite of body and soul. We are not bifurcated; we cannot put our soul on the shelf and out of the way when we do something with our body that may offend it. Thanks be to God, the reverse is also true. When we undertake virtuous things in our bodies like fasting, it bears spiritual fruit in our souls.

Insights into Spiritual Warfare

Taking up Exodus 90 has proved to be a boot camp for me in spiritual warfare. In both years that I participated, the ascetical practices have reminded me of the three simple tools I need to fight.

The first tool is a willingness to undertake a penance for the sake of an intention. Second, that intention should be worth the effort (and any expression of Christ-like charity will suffice for this). Finally, once the opportunity arises to slack on fasting, ease up on a discipline, or turn that shower dial warmer, the third tool is to ask for the grace to say ‘no.’ And do it!

This year in Exodus, I have set reminders in the app to offer my daily disciplines for a particular intention. Mondays are for my pastor, Thursdays are for my kids, Fridays are for my wife, and so on. It has helped me immensely to have this morning reminder that my self-denial goes to the Lord’s good use. One of the best indications of this lesson from Exodus is that I plan to continue to do this once the program is done.

Fraternity

One of the highlights of both years in Exodus 90 is the fraternity. We meet every Saturday morning, our pastor offers Mass, and afterward we discuss the highlights and lowlights of the week. I have found these meetings comforting, encouraging, and motivating.

I have often been humbled hearing about the struggles of one guy, the difficult situation of another, and the success of grace in the life of another. Most often, those three things happen in one man. It spurs me into prayer and my own effort. Also, does anyone want to head into a meeting knowing they’d dropped the ball?

The weekly fraternity meetings are another one of the aspects of Exodus that I wish would continue after Easter.

Perhaps other men can grow spiritually in other ways; certainly, there are many charisms, small groups, and spiritual programs available. Exodus 90 seeks to bring men closer to God in the prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. I am fully confident that any willing soul giving it a try, provides an opening to God to do great work.