Yesterday for chapel, the foreign language teachers organized a special service that celebrated the languages we teach at our school. It was nice. There was lots of student involvement and lots of integration of French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Our concert choir and praise team sang. The song the praise team ended chapel with was about sharing the Gospel with the world – very appropriate for our theme of the day. They asked us to sing along during the chorus. The chorus had the word “Hallelujah” in it.
And here’s a thing I learned about myself yesterday: I like the tradition of not singing or saying Hallelujah in worship services during Lent. I like it a lot. I like it enough that I will decline to sing Hallelujah, even when invited by a praise team of enthusiastically singing high schoolers.
I know it’s a man-made tradition and it’s not important for salvation, but I like symbols and traditions. They add another dimension to faith. And Lent sometimes gets a bad rap, but I think it’s how you look at it. To me, Lent isn’t about beating myself up about how sinful I am. I know the depth of my sin. Instead, I think Lent is a time to be reminded that no matter how deep my sin is, God’s love is deeper still. Lent is all about love.
And putting away Alleluia for a little while makes it all the sweeter on Easter morning.
Well said. 🙂
I made the mistake of starting ‘Ho ho ho hosanna’ (Ha ha hallelujah, hee hee hee he saved me – I’ve got the joy of the Lord!) last week and my aide had to remind me that this wasn’t the best time for it. Dratted autopilot mind.
Lent is all about love. I really like that!
Let’s hear it for the L-word!!
On or about Ash Wednesday I handed printed copies for my first period boys of a quick poem some pastor had written about why we need Lent in our church year – and he took far more words to say pretty much what you did so well and so briefly above. Lent isn’t about being dispondent, hanging the head low and singing hymns with three flats (though many do have that key signature…) – it’s about realizing how deep, wide, tall and broad His love is for us all. (Why am I getting verklempt just typing this?) Nicely said, Brad.
Hallelujah for Lent! (oops!)
ha!
Hehe… 😉