Thursday, February 11

It was a year ago liturgically that we began to pay attention to the mysterious virus - COVID-19. Shrove Tuesday was celebrated with great fun in the Parish Hall, and Ash Wednesday was observed normally. Within a few weeks, however, everything was shut down. We hoped to be back in church for Palm Sunday, but that never materialized. Now almost a year has past, and Shrove Tuesday will be celebrated virtually, and Ash Wednesday will observe our pandemic protocols. The good news is that vaccines are rolling out, and even though life has moved in new directions due to the pandemic, perhaps by summer we will have the chance to relax our pandemic practices.

Some have joked that we have been in Lent since last Lent. The same jokes were said about Advent - we are all in a never-ending season of waiting. There is truth to both of these sentiments, but there is also truth that Easter has been with us throughout it all. I am reminded how during Lent we refer to Sundays as Sundays IN Lent and not Sundays OF Lent. Sundays, no matter what the season, are celebrations of the resurrection. As Christians, no matter what life is giving us and no matter what the suffering might be, we always celebrate Easter.

As we enter another Lent during this pandemic, we are being called to remain disciplined in a different way. We are called to keep our eyes focused on Easter as this pandemic grinds on. Thankfully new rays of light are beginning to make cracks in the wall of the pandemic. Perhaps by this Easter, when Christ bursts forth from the tomb, all of society will enjoy an increase of light as the pandemic continues to fade away.

Blessings to you and your loved ones,
Father Paul Lillie +