And just like that, we made it to the first week of Lent all over again. It feels like just yesterday that we were entering a global pandemic at the beginning of the Lenten season, watching Easter mass from our living rooms and scrolling through the Neumann campus ministry Instagram for reflections and prayers to satisfy our need for Jesus's love and presence in our newly quarantined lives. Most of us felt lost at the beginning of Lent this time last year, questioning why God brought something so devastating and life-changing into our lives. But instead of letting the virus take hold of our lives negatively, we found ways to use our faith and embody Jesus in our lives. For Lent in 2020, instead of giving up chocolate or coffee, we gave up negativity and found ways to exemplify positivity. We made masks, uplifting TikToks, or tried to be the best essential workers we could be. We turned away from bitterness and regret and found other ways to be happy, whether it be taking up a new quarantine hobby or inspiring others to be creative and stay busy. We came together to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection over FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype, and tuned into mass or Lenten prayer in any way possible during the time. The quarantined Lenten season became one of the most memorable church seasons, because it helped us to see what we might have been taking for granted in the past.

This Lenten season might be the most important of all. During Lent this year, we should take time to be thankful for the faith that helped us get through the struggles and devastation of a global pandemic and for coming out stronger for that. We should be happy for every moment that we shared with someone, whether it be over the computer screen or six feet apart (with a mask, of course!). This Easter, we need to think about giving up more than just physical possessions, but try to give up negative aspects of ourselves that hinder our personal growth and our faith journeys. Because we cannot blame God for the pandemic, instead we must thank God for getting us through the hardest obstacle of our lives thus far. We need to be grateful for bringing us together, though not physically, and keeping us healthy and strong. The past year brought us a vaccine for COVID-19 and the possibility of a brighter future. This pandemic was a test for all of us, and through this Lenten season of 2021 we should take the time to reflect on our blessings and be present, but also hopeful for continued better days to come.