Lent is a season to get closer to our sisters and brothers s, just as Christ drew close to us. Photo: Unsplash
How is Lent observed and celebrated in your country, your community, and in your home?
In my home country, Paraguay, Lent and Easter are steeped in local traditions that emphasize family and community life, as well as sharing traditional foods. This time of the year marks the transition from summer to autumn. The weather becomes mild and pleasant, giving rise to various outdoor activities, as the days are no longer so hot.
During my childhood, we used to attend the so-called Lent Bible school. I clearly remember sitting in a circle at church on Saturday afternoons and singing songs about this liturgical season at the top of our lungs. We did not have Spotify or YouTube: we had to read from the hymnbook or memorize the melodies and lyrics. I still remember many of the songs to this day. Although I did not understand much about the theological concepts surrounding the Lent season, I loved being able to meet with my church friends, listen to stories, do crafts, play and have snacks together. The weather was perfect for children to play in the churchyard, creating memories that would stay with us for the rest of our lives. Wrapped in the innocence of childhood, we were taught with simplicity, patience and love that faith, church and community life were our home too, and that it was a space shared with our peers. We were a community, but we did not realize it at the time. Perhaps some of you have had similar experiences?
Unconditional and infinite love
“The Lord gives us a new commandment: that we should love one another as he loved us,” is the chorus of a popular song inspired by John 13:34-35 and composed in Latin America. We sang it over and over again during the aforementioned meetings. This song, which refers to community life and love for one’s neighbor, is suitable for all ages.
“The sign of a Christian is to love one another as brothers and sisters,” one of the stanzas states. The underlying Gospel text is brief but powerful: what should distinguish us as Christians is the love we have for one another.
The words of Jesus, as recorded by the apostles, challenge and empower us in such a way that we cannot escape them if we want to be recognized as followers of Christ. There is no way out, it is simple: we must love one another. But it is not just any love, it is a love like that of Christ. A respectful, liberating, profound love, full of devotion, empathy and, above all, unconditional and infinite. The love that Christ demands of us is dynamic and under no circumstances should it remain hidden. Rather, it must be demonstrated, it must be visible, and above all, it must be shared, so that those who see us recognize our faith identity. There are no set of rules on how to demonstrate this love or how to live, so we are free to love and serve others, without dogmatic ties or barriers imposed by the world.
Community life
Having said all this, I cannot stop thinking about how my Lent Bible school self would have understood Jesus' commandment, perhaps through the simple yet profound act of living in community and respecting and caring for one another. And to be honest, I think that is a great way to observe and live Lent: emphasizing community life and basing it on the love Christ taught us to have for one another.
This is a season for reflection, for remembering the life of Jesus, a life surrounded by people, contact, community, care, empathy and love. This is a time to get closer to our brothers and sisters and, why not, as we do with children: sing, do creative activities, tell stories and share food, as these activities bring us together and are good for us at any age.
During this season of Lent, I invite you to celebrate that Christ's love unites us, identifies us, and challenges us to remain united and in community despite difficulties.
