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As I was well into Ash Wednesday, last week, I was experiencing an interesting emotion. I was happy it was Lent.
Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, what is the matter with you?
You’re happy it’s Lent? You’re happy it’s a time of sacrifice and penance? You’re happy it’s a time when the joyous “A” word is not to be said or sung? You’re happy it’s the “sorrowful” time in the Church for 40-days until we get to Easter?
Yes, I am. Here’s why.
It’s familiar
For the last almost 12 months, a lot of things have been different, both within the Church and outside of it.
We’ve had to deal with wearing masks at Mass, being limited to where we can sit during Mass, and almost a year ago, not even being able to go to Mass in a church.
When it comes to going Ash Wednesday Mass (aside from how we got our ashes), coming up with goals for Lent, along with anticipating Easter, these are things we’ve done before.
We get to choose and take control of these sacrifices and goals we’re making, and many of us have made Lenten plans before.
Unlike a lot of things that 2020 and 2021 brought upon us, we can prepare for Lent according to our own desires and limits.
It will end
We know Lent will only last 40 days and Easter will come.
Unlike some aspects of dealing with the pandemic, we know on Easter that we’ll be singing the “Gloria” and being some of our old and pre-Lent selves again.
We know when this time of sacrifice will end.
How we’re handling Lent this year may seem like a cakewalk (Mmmm, cake. Whoops, gave that up.) compared to how we’ve handled COVID.
That’s not to say we’re going easy on ourselves, but we’ve been a little toughened up these past almost 12 months.
We can more readily and ably do His will the more we love to sacrifice.
It’s not bad or weird, it’s just growing in love for God and His will for us.
Christ rose from the dead
While we make sacrifices and penances during Lent, we also know the glorious ending is coming. Christ rising from the dead on the third day.
Let’s be a “kid on Christmas” on Easter. I can’t promise the pandemic will be over then, but Lent will be, and we can go forward with God in the Resurrection no matter what the state of the world is around us.
We were not made for this world; we were made for Heaven.
If you’re feeling happier than you usually do during the purple and subdued months of Lent, don’t feel bad.
You’ve just grown closer to God and to understanding His plan of salvation for us in the Resurrection.
It may have been a goal for years, but now, we truly are on the path to making this the “Best Lent Ever”.