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February 26, 2021Last year, I remember declaring that I was giving myself a Lenten reprieve. After all, at the time, I was basically in a state of panic all the time, not knowing what to expect of the future, fearing for my life and the lives of my loved ones, denied of life’s pleasures like hugging my friends and family members for the (un)foreseeable future.
And to be sure, things are still not settled. I still haven’t hugged, still haven’t seen my family members, have lived through some VERY scary and dark moments. It’s still scary out there, people, as you know!
But I’m not as inclined to skip Lent this year. To be clear, I’m not looking (or needing) to add extra suffering to my life this year, any more than I needed to last year. But I’m seeing this Lent a little differently.
This year, hope is tantalizingly almost in view. This year, we may all receive miracle vaccines, may be able to see and hug our friends again, may be able to sing at Mass and smile at strangers, relatively mask-less. It’s possible this year. And although it’s not like that yet, and I’m not expecting to wake up one day to find Covid over with, I can’t help but be hopeful.
And this is where Lent comes in. Whereas last year, Lent felt like a deep, dark cave, this year, to me, it feels more like a tunnel. I’m still in the dark, and can’t even see the opening at the other end yet, but I have hope that it’s there, and I’ll find it, eventually, if I keep walking.
And Lent has always been meant to be a walk in the dark, a time of cleaning up the clutter of our sins, a watching for signs that it is safe to throw open the windows and let the light and fresh air in. It’s a hard walk, but it’s a walk to somewhere. So, I’m not skipping Lent this year. I’m walking it, and it’s helping me, reminding me that Lent ends in Easter; in hope, in joy, in promise of eternal life with God and my loved ones.
If you’re looking for ways to walk Lent this year, we have some great offerings at the parish, and we invite you to find ones that support your walk. Join us for the Stations of the Cross on Zoom (or, in the coming weeks, on display in the side yard at IC), Adoration on Facebook, brush up your Catholic know-how with How To Catholic, join a Beta group just for men, and of course, join us for Mass in person or from home. Parishes are for walking this walk together, and we thank you for choosing MQOA.
Check out our Lent page here
