Over and over, I hear good Catholics who say that not eating meat on Fridays is too easy, and therefore, they feel they should pick something different.
If on Fridays you substitute shrimp and lobster for spaghetti and meatballs, I almost might agree. Consider eating like a poor person and have a bowl of plain rice.
For those of us seeking a good retort to those who don’t want to follow the Church’s law on abstaining from meat on Fridays, I offer the following:
But Samuel said, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to the Lord’s command? Obedience is better than sacrifice, to listen, better than the fat of rams.” 1Samuel 15:22
Obedience is better, because obedience, for most of us, is harder.
Reit This Way 
I just read that same passage this morning and it stuck out from all the other words I read.
It always baffles me, the people who think the requirements of the Church are too easy. That we must do more than the Church requires or we're not Catholic enough.
Easy? Huh. I was just sitting here thinking that there is NOTHING that inspires a desire for bacon in me more than a Friday during Lent. Not to mention the two things I have given up. It's all I thought about yesterday! It's very hard. But it's supposed to be hard, so that we turn to Christ in prayer in those hard moments.
I try to do Friday meatless year round, and, no, it is not easy at all. It's very easy if I'm in control – we eat at home and I decide what to cook. But if you consider an entire year, there are many social functions, or even mandatory-fun events, and I don't get to choose the menu…or certainly don't get to avoid temptation. And try traveling on Fridays and doing drive-thru…definitely not easy.
Oh, and Jennie, yes, I agree. And anyone is free to make it harder. Like I said, try eating like the other 90% of the world.
Michelle,
I have to ask: what's your stance on the parish Lenten fish fry?
My husband and I struggle with this one; on the one hand, it's a major fundraiser for our parish and a way to have fellowship with our parish community.
On the otherhand: it just seems a wee little bit like too much fun, lol. I'm off the hook for making dinner! Pierogies, huge fish sandwiches, beer, dessert, chinese auctions and 50/50 raffles. These are certainly not bad things in and of themselves, but I'm starting to find that my kids LOVE Fridays in Lent because it means fun.
Does anyone else struggle with this a bit? Maybe I am over-thinking it…I don't mean to sound more Catholic than the Pope, for lack of better words.
I struggle with this too! We're going to our parish's tonight…never been, but it does sound fun, and I'm not sure that's a good thing. Ive also been to soup dinners that were overly dour. What is the perfect balance?