Half-Time Change Ends is an expression used in the world of sports that recalls the exchange of sides between two opposing teams. It is meant to give equal chance to both teams to face a different direction. It makes sense for example if a sports game is played outside at the time of the sunset. It would be unfair if one team played with the sun in their eyes the entire time. Many analogies can be made between the world of sports and our faith lives. I am not the first one to make one. Even St. Paul does so: “While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) In this Lenten season, we are training and disciplining ourselves as we approach the Easter festivities. But like modern-day sporting events, the Church offers us a half-time during this marathon we call Lent.

This 4^th Sunday of Lent marks the half-way point between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. We can think then that this Sunday is like the half-time show. The biggest change we see is the change in liturgical color. Normally, the season of Lent calls for purple vestments, but on this Sunday, we are permitted to wear rose (or pink) colored vestments. It is a day that we are able to lighten the mood a little bit from the austerity of the season of Lent. It is also known as Laetare Sunday in reference to the first words of the Entrance Antiphon for this Sunday (the Entrance Antiphon is a verse of Scripture recited or chanted in the absence of an Entrance hymn at Mass): “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.” (Cf. Isaiah 66:10-11). Given this theme of rejoicing, it is permitted, only on this Sunday during Lent, to decorate the church with a few flowers. We rejoice because, even as we recall the passion and death of Jesus during Lent, we know that he is already risen from the dead.

Half-time though is not only a time of entertainment for the fans in the stands. It is more a time for the players to regroup and restore their energy for the rest of the game. For us who are in this marathon of Lent, we can ask ourselves, how are we doing with our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? Perhaps we are a few points behind. If that is you, there is still hope. It’s half-time, change ends. I will remember for a long time the recent Olympic men’s semifinal hockey game between Canada and Finland. By the end of the second period, Finland was up 2-0. In the third period, after a time of regrouping, Canada came back to win the game 3-2. We still have time to change things around this Lent.

Now if all else fails by the time we get to Holy Week, another sports analogy might be helpful. It’s a long-shot, last-second pass to score a touchdown to win the game. We call it a Hail Mary pass. Let’s turn to our Blessed Mother this Lent as she will always guide us along the path to following her son more closely. 

Fr Kevin Burgess