Ugh.....Its Lent...

I used to hate Lent.  Yuk.  It always begins during the coldest, deadest time of our year. The hymns turn into minor chord blahs. Crosses and Statues are covered.  You gotta give up something. Ugh. Pain. Just get to Easter when we could be happy again! I remember a priest once saying to me, "Jason, its Lent. We are all miserable."

Sadly, "grumpy cat" sadness and sorrow really has a big old zippo to do with Lent.  Even the Church herself doesn't mention in her prayers how miserable and sorrowful we Lenten pilgrims should be! Take a look at these two prefaces (the introductory prayers for the Eucharist):


"You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare
with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in
works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments,
they may come to the fullness of grace which you have
prepared for those who love you." BCP, Lent II


"For by your gracious gift each year
your faithful await the sacred paschal feasts
with the joy of minds made pure,
so that, more eagerly intent on prayer
and on the works of charity,
and participating in the mysteries
by which they have been reborn,
they may be led to the fullness of grace
that you bestow on your sons and daughters." Roman Missal, Lent I

This actually is a season of great joy! Coming back to the house of the Father, leaving behind all that separates us from him, is a moment to celebrate. We are slowly moving from death to life. That is why we are joyful.  Christ is inwardly transforming us.  We are getting our hearts in right order through our prayer and fasting.  Think of a workout program. The exercise, the diet, and sweat really pay off. Why? Because you start to feel amazing.  You get on the scale and scream for losing 2 lbs! That is Lent! There is joy in transformation! Think of the parable of the Prodigal Son.  As the son begins to walk back to the Father's house, the Father runs to greet him in joy. That, my friends is Lent.  Passiontide: well that is a horse of a different color.  There is sorrow there to watch what our Savior did for our salvation. But the days of Lent should be filled with joy.

So turn off the grumpy cat.  We are headed to the house of the Father!

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." Mt 6:16-18