Lent begins next Wednesday. For Catholics and some Protestants, Lent is a solemn period spent in reflection, repentance, and preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Strictly observant Christians will not eat meat, fish, butter, or eggs during Lent—sort of like being a vegan without the Life Sentence—while lesser mortals give up one thing such as alcohol, candy, or television.
The week preceding Lent was always a big deal when I was a kid. Mother Gonzaga (aka Ma Gun) would seat us at the hem of her habit, create within us a spirit of self-loathing, and then assure us that Jesus loved us anyway. If the Allman Brothers had a source of inspiration for Whipping Post Ma Gun was surely it.
The lesson concluded with an admonition to “give something up” to empathize with and experience His suffering and agony in demonstrable and measurable ways. The following week—this week—was spent in soulful and anxious consideration of how to repudiate our sinful selves during the Lenten season. I recall balancing the painful decision to give up stealing and smoking my Mother’s Pall Malls against answering her inevitable question about what I was giving up for Lent.
A lot has happened since those days. General Eisenhower retired to Gettysburg to paint pictures. A man went to the moon. Air conditioning became unremarkable. Working boys went to Vietnam. Nixon went to China. Houses have more than 1 bathroom. Dixiecrats became Republicans. Maggie Smith was a hot young thing, and now she’s Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. A black guy became President. Your grandma smokes weed prescribed by her doctor. The beat goes on.
As does Mother Gonzaga. I can hear her now:
“You are not the most introspective of people, and few of your institutions—churches, political parties, families—ask or expect you to judge yourselves, or to mind the business of your own souls first. These institutions tell you that you can sing the blues without suffering, and they peddle righteousness as a worthy substitute for compassion and humility.
“That’s all baloney. That’s why we need Lent. In Jesus’s Name, amen.”
Another great column, Dan.
I used to focus on the abstinences of Lent and usually failed miserably in avoiding the sins of sugar or alcohol or meat. Now I try, during the 40 days, to focus on a daily goal for practicing or understanding Christian philosophy. But I also have no tyranny of Catholic guilt with which to contend. Protestants have no Mother Gonzaga tapes in their head. We can have jazz and blues tapes asking pithy questions about sacrifice.
So what do you think you’ll “give up” for Lent???? Some United Methodists might consider giving up their lifelong association affiliation with The Church as a whole. I could give up FB, but I won’t. xoxo