At a workshop recently a catechist shared a conversation she had with here son. She asked here son, “What are you doing for Lent?”
To which the son replied, “I’m giving up candy.” After sharing his plans he took a gummy worm from its package and popped it into his mouth.
In amazement, his mother said, “Do you realize that Gummy Worms are candy and Lent started today?”
Her son replied with the voice of confidence, “But Lent doesn’t start until you get the ashes.”
Lent doesn’t start when the hands of some unseen master clock move from 11:59 pm Tuesday to 12:00 am Wednesday. No, according this is young man. Lent begins when you get the ashes.
That young man, may not have known it, but he made this catechists heart glad. In a clear way he named one important part of our catholic life namely, sacrament. With bread and wine, with water and oil, and yes with ashes and palms we mark or make visible in a new way God’s action in our lives. And I must say, we Catholics are very good at this! Catholics have a strong sacramental imagination. We see the world sacramentally.
As I journey through Lent with the Catechumens I remember why I continue to choose to be Catholic. My participation in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) helps bolster my sacramental imagination, with the hope that at Easter I will see with new eyes.
“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” (Ps 138:3a)