A new Experience
The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday and
ends approximately six weeks later on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter
Sunday. Devoted Christians observe a period of fasting, repentance, moderation,
self-denial, and spiritual discipline. The purpose of the Lenten season is to
set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ, to consider his sacrifice, his
life, death, burial, and resurrection.
Because of the lockdowns, the way we honor
Christ is not the same. But the end goal is still the same, it’s just that we
do it in different ways this time. Instead of going to church, we watch online
masses, during Ash Wednesday we only sprinkle the ash on our heads unlike
before when it was placed on our forehead. As Pope Francis has said about the
pandemic, “We do not come out of a crisis the same as before: either we come
out of it better, or we come out of it worse.” Perhaps then, during Lent
this year,
we can take some time to reflect on how the pandemic has affected us and commit
to coming out of this better than we were before. So many priests and parish
staff have found ways to connect with their people by communicating virtually
and live streaming masses and other events. We were all so surprised by the
effort made by pastors to continue spreading the word if God. Virtual masses,
Livestream masses will never replace the real encounter with Christ in the
Word, in the Eucharist, and in communion with one another. But it is the new
normal and it keeps us safe. We should do our part during the Lenten season;
help prevent more lives from being lost. So that we can end this pandemic and
we can return to our normal lives.
Let’s use this Lenten season to ensure we come out of the pandemic better than we’ve ever been, as individuals and as a church. And remember that each and every one of us is special and has a part to play in this world. Together we can prevent this pandemic from getting worse, together we can end this nightmare.
Photo 1: Lent2.jpg (1024×611) (hcdsb.org)
Comments
Post a Comment