Shriven by COVID

Today is Shrove Tuesday or, less traditionally, Pancake Tuesday when Christians and non-Christians alike feast (pig out) on pancakes.  Christians traditionally observe it as a feast before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent and prepare for this solemn season by not only feasting but also going to church to be shriven.  This is somewhat contradictory.  Christians were to be shriven – to confess their sins and be forgiven as a prelude to Lent.  Shrove Tuesday is therefore a day to not only indulge yourself in a feast before the Lenten fast in preparation for Easter.  But there you go, who says that religious observances need to be completely logical – let the mystery be.

So, let’s celebrate and get fat (it was also known as Fat Tuesday) and turn our minds to what we do or don’t do as part of our Lenten observance.

It seems to be that we have now had a year of being shriven – we are down to the basics in our lives.  We haven’t been partying with others – or have not supposed to have been doing that.  We have been eating at home instead of eating in restaurants albeit perhaps having take out meals.  One of the things I look forward to when we are back to some semblance of normal is going out to our local restaurant on a Saturday morning for the breakfast special and reading the Saturday Globe and Mail.  Or there is the other old favourite of a movie and dinner which sometimes means the guilty pleasure of a double feature with popcorn and pop for “dinner”. 

That is not much of a sacrifice when you think of all that many people have had not give up in the last year – not to mention those that have been infected with COVID and the serious medical consequences and even death that can result.  Personally, I have little to complain about and much to give thanks for.

Will this year-long shriving – being shriven of those things which are so important in life – have a lasting effect on people and how we approach life once COVID has been defeated or at least controlled?  Will it make us appreciate more fully the joys of family gatherings, or gathering with others for many different occasions?  Will practicing Christians or those of other Religions return to worship together in person or will we be satisfied to worship by gather remotely via social media?  Christians have the assurance from Jesus Christ that where two or three are gathered together in his name he will be there.  Does gathering together via the internet qualify?  Perhaps, but I am not sure that Jesus would concur if he returned tomorrow.  To go down that theological rabbit hole further, can a concertation of the Eucharistic elements – the bread and wine in the communion - be valid if conducted electronically.  I leave that for our Bishops to ponder. 

Another thing I have truly missed is gathering with others to sing – whether it is in church or in secular gatherings.  There can be some singing on-line but, truly, it is not the same muting your self and singing along with a leader or singing your part alone on Zoom and having it put together remotely and listening/viewing the modern miracle of all the singers coming together in song in the same tempo and hopefully in tune. 

Returning to normal will, I am sure, not be the same.  However, we can reflect on this past year of being shriven by COVID and appreciate what is important and meaningful in our lives and what of that experience we want to incorporate to enable us to live more fully as God intends us to live.  The end seems to be in sight but do not let your guard down – keep social distancing, wear your mask, and don’t forget to wash your hand for the full recommended period – what is it, singing Happy birthday twice? 

Blessings on your Lenten journey shriven or not.