Welcoming Lent

There are two seasons which seem to have taken a long time to arrive this year…Lent and Spring.  Would you agree that we are ready for both?  Even though with all the sanding, shoveling and scrapping of the past months one might make the case that we who live in the Northeast have already engaged in a period of significant sacrifice it is almost time to welcome the season of Lent, with its ashes, purple vestments, prayer and sacrifices of a different kind.

Lent, like Spring, involves preparation, if the season to follow (Easter) is to be fully enjoyed.  Just the other day I heard that folks who live significantly south of us had already begun to rake their yards.  At this time of the year, especially after all the snow we had this winter, just the thought of raking sounded very good to me.  I can picture in my mind’s eye working to get the flower beds clean of leaves and debris. I imagine the first buds poking through the ground and the grass beginning to green once more.  I began to consider the work it would take to get my yard looking its summer best.  I think about the lugging, digging and dragging the bags of leaves to the bottom of the driveway to be picked up by the town.  Even though Spring will involve a good amount of work, I welcome it’s arrival as I know it heralds a summer of outdoor activity which I have missed!

Lent is like that too.  I wonder…do we welcome the season of Lent the way we welcome the season of Spring?  Do we consider embracing the act of spiritual raking, digging and dragging to the curb of any old dead leaves that have accumulated in the corners of our souls with the same eager anticipation as we clean our flower beds?   Does the thought of cleaning out all that has accumulated over time to make room for new growth give you a feeling of hope for what lies ahead?  Is it possible to actually get excited about the arrival of Lent?  I think it is!  Prayer, fasting, sacrificial giving, spiritual reading, studying scripture, the stations of the cross, are all ways to prune, rake and fertilize our way to Easter.  Indeed, Lent not only prepares us for the joy of Easter, Lent anticipates the joy of Easter.  HAPPY LENT!

Paula Raposo, Adult Faith Formation