Lent and the "A" word...

Personally, I’m waiting for a Catholic song writer to come up with the Lenten equivalent of Adam Sandler’s “Hannukah Song”… (“pull out your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah!”)

We are in the seventh day of Lent. As of last week on Ash Wednesday, we Catholics don’t get to say the “A” word until Easter Sunday. The “A” word being the one that begins with “a”, ends with “a” and has “llelui” in the middle. (that’s the sneaky Catholic in me coming out… )

Well of course there’s a reason for this, just as sure as I know you were going to ask “But Jay – what’s the reason for not using the “A” word during Lent?”

Glad you asked.

Lent is a time to reflect on our Lord’s suffering. His betrayal, His undeserved trial, His unwarranted death, and most of all, His cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabbacthani?” The one moment when God actually turned his back to His only Son.

It’s a time for us to try to understand the magnitude of His sacrifice, as well as the anguish – mental and physical – that He went through. It is a time to contemplate, not celebrate. Hence, we don’t use the “A” word for 40 days.

But on Easter Sunday, it’s just about the first word we use! As Mr. Dictionary on ABC’s “1 Saturday Morning” used to say, “Look it up!” Use it! Wear it out!”

Which we will do during the Easter season. But for now, we’re “A”-less.