The party's (almost) over

In places like Port of Spain, Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the party has been in high swing for almost a week, but at the stroke of midnight tonight, it's all over.

Shrove Tuesday will soon give way to Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the Christian observance of Lent.

In some parts of the world, the reverie will give way to sombre observance of this period of preparation for the Solemnity of Easter, but in other parts of the world, one might wonder whether the rising sun will bring any recognizable change compared with the day that has just ended. In places like China, where Christianity is in the minority, this is to be expected, but in other parts of the world, places where society seems to be in a post-Christian environ, the lack of observance of this (or any other) tradition leaves some lamenting and others floundering.

Perhaps this Lent will present an occasion (or two) for people who have the knowledge about the significance of this liturgical season to inform others, to challenge them, to give them a reason to want to use this time to discover the gift being offered by the Lord.