What Did We Talk About When We Talked About Lent?

By John Kass

April 13, 2025

Today is Palm Sunday for the Christian world. It is the beginning of Holy Week, and it builds to Easter Sunday, when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is the time of new life in the world, the time trees are budding. In the Midwest, the magnolia trees are in bloom. It is the time of faith, but also, the time of questions.

Years ago, when I was still working at “the paper,” I wrote an Easter column titled “What do we talk about during Lent if not Lent?”

One of my subscribers here at johnkassnews.com recently mentioned that old column in a note to me. He said he keeps that column and returns to it throughout the year.

I don’t work there anymore. I had to leave for sanity’s sake. I work here now, writing for you. So, I used that old one to build this new one.

But my questions remain.

It happens every year when the ground is cold and wet in March, when polite talk involves pepper and egg sandwiches, and later, chocolate bunnies and those sugary Peeps. And when the franchise burger places dramatically cut their prices for cheeseburgers to get us to eat meat during Lent, when for many the consumption of meat and cheese are prohibited.

It’s the time when I ask questions of myself that I really can’t quite answer, and this one comes back at me again and again:

As a Christian, how can I reconcile writing a column where tart words and worse fly off my keyboard with Lent and preparation for Easter?

I really can’t reconcile it. I wish I could, but I can’t. Writing a column is by definition about putting yourself forward.

It is not about sitting quietly and humbly in the back pew, your head down, like the tax collector begging God’s mercy.

Perhaps it should be about sitting humbly and quietly, reflecting on your sins. But it doesn’t work that way. Your name is on it.

It is a column.

In a news column, you could call a politician a coward one day and mock a crook the next day, return to the cowardly politician for the weekend. And jeer at a chumbolone who’s got a mocking coming.

The sin here is pride. I know this.

You might wish you were in the pew in the farthest back row of the church, head down like the Publican, but the columnist puts his name on the column and hopes many others will read it. And he tells himself that pride is a sin, leading him away from the Lenten journey.

So, I look out at the gray sky and quietly, rightly, pronounce myself a failure.

That’s what I do during Lent. The only difference is that this year, I’ve told you about it. Years ago, when I wrote the original, earlier version of this column, I offended a man I don’t even know. I didn’t mean to at first, but things escalated as they often do on social media, and then I offended with relish.

He wanted to make a life in politics and running for office. It was his dream. And I arrogantly told him that it was a bad idea, that life of politics, even one on the far edges of the game of thrones, could be fascinating and compelling, yes but ultimately it is brutalizing.

You think you can survive intact, but ultimately the successful politicians I know have sold pieces of themselves. Sold them off.

I told him that to survive in politics, he’d need a thick skin, I said, but once he jumped into the game, his skin would just keep on getting thicker, and eventually, the man he had once been might become unrecognizable.

We all grow armor of some kind to survive emotionally in the world. But a life in politics, with all its spin and lies, is especially brutalizing. And the most effective politicians are the silky ones. They use empathy and reason as their weapons. They don’t crawl forth on their bellies, but they are snakes just the same.

I told the man who wanted to go into politics that politics was a brutalizing business, and he became angry, as if I was trying to deny him his prize, his destiny. Then I became angry and said some stupid things, and we insulted each other.

Under most circumstances, I would have forgotten it and moved on.

But as I remember it was around the day some good and trusted friends and I recorded “The Chicago Way” podcast, and it was almost by accident that the issue bubbled up again when I mentioned that it was Lent. And that has stuck with me for years.

Why? I can’t say.  If you know an angel, please ask him.

Kristen McQueary, the columnist and Tribune Editorial Board member, joined us, and editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis, and my friend Jeff Carlin, of course, the WGN producer who handles the heavy work of the podcast.

These are good and thoughtful people.

Journalists don’t talk about Lent, as a rule. Perhaps that’s because to talk about Lent is to inevitably cast yourself as some kind of wild-eyed heretic in the journalism world, a Christian. In Chicago journalism that veers wildly left, Christianity is a sin.

So, I asked Kristen, who was with her daughter, Ellie, and Scott and Jeff, whether it’s possible to write a column where you call people out and reconcile that with the spiritual preparation required of Lent.

“It’s a question I’ve asked myself a million times, and as a cartoonist, my job is to be even meaner than you are,” Stantis joked. “I’ve asked a number of priests this question, that we’re supposed to be forgiving and kind, and yet in my faith, every priest I’ve asked said, “I think God understands.”

“I think it’s hard to reconcile what we do with that idea of forgiveness,” said McQueary, “with turning the other cheek and being humble and not putting yourself out there.”

For Christians, there’s probably no more challenging season than Lent. It’s the time when many ask questions of themselves.

One-third of the world’s population considers itself Christian, with more than 2 billion adherents. Yet the 40 days of Lent—when many prepare themselves for the resurrection of Christ from the dead—is all but an unknown subject for public discussion. You might say it is taboo.

You’d think that something affecting more than 2 billion people might be a subject of discussion.

Not about peeps and rabbits, real or chocolate ones, and butter lambs and candy. But what we find on the Lenten journey and are too self-conscious to say out loud.

And with so much happening in the Christian world, at a time when so many are falling away, too, and older Christians all but hide their faith, or soften it, pounding it into previously unrecognizable forms rather than be mocked in an increasingly militant secular world loudly professes a tolerance of diverse views.

So, what do we talk about when we don’t talk about Lent?

We talk safely of corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day, and later of chocolate bunnies and Peeps. And these last two are props—whether we acknowledge this or not—for the fertility rites of earth worship. That’s how Easter becomes safe.

But Lent isn’t about sugar. Lent isn’t safe. Ultimately, for many Christians, Lent is difficult, a struggle, like a war, and every year I fail.

I wish I had some glib answers, but I don’t. Outside as dawn breaks there is a gray sky and black limbs of trees. Closing my eyes, I can see the places where I fall, and I ask for mercy.

It is not easy to be a Christian, is it?

Our Holy Fathers understood that it was not meant to be easy.

It’s not a Sunday drive through the country. It isn’t a sip of lemonade.

It is a difficult journey to strengthen the soul.

Sunday is Palm Sunday, one of those rare occurrences in the religious calendars where the Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate along with Protestants and Roman Catholics.

We’re together this year.

Now comes Holy Week and many of us are on our knees in church, asking those questions and many of us whispering to ourselves the Jesus Prayer of the Orthodox:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

And next Sunday is Easter, as spring begins, and new life comes to the world. We gather and turn toward the light.

Kali Anastasi.

(Copyright 2025 John Kass)

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About the author: John Kass spent decades as a political writer and news columnist in Chicago working at a major metropolitan newspaper. He is co-host of The Chicago Way podcast. And he just loves his “No Chumbolone” hat, because johnkassnews.com is a “No Chumbolone” Zone where you can always get a cup of common sense.

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Comments 34

  1. My daughter Amy attends a Catholic catechism class, “Guardian Angels” for special needs once a month at St Ita parish in Edgewater, a parish I grew up in even though we live 2 hours away. She is famous for going upstairs to the main church, pew six rows back from the front, and just sitting there and gloringing in the stillness of the afternoon as the sun shines through the magnificent stain glass windows of this gorgeous French gothic church. This Saturday the statues in the church were shrouded with purple veiling for Lent giving a ghostly atmosphere to the experience. That is how this year I unexpectantly felt the presence of Lent.

    2. Very poignant! I know that church.

      (But I went to St. Greg’s for grade school. I used to like to make “visits” all over the neighborhood.)

    3. Mr. Jennings,
      I highly recommend attending the Saturday night Easter vigil. As a Catholic, this is my favorite mass of the year. It’s longer than regular Easter Sunday masses but well worth your time.
      The congregation gathers outdoors around a blazing fire which the priest blesses, asking God to bestow “upon the faithful the fire of your glory”. From this fire the Paschal (Easter) Candle is lit and carried into the darkened church followed by the congregation who will gradually spread the light with their own candles, lit from the Paschal Candle. To me this symbolizes that light always overcomes darkness and Jesus is the light of the world and overcomes the darkness and evil.
      The Easter vigil is also when we welcome Candidates for Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
      There is no greater or more important gathering of the faithful than on this holiest night of the year.

  2. Kali Anastasi Mr Kass! There’s a time and a place for everything and there are roles that must be fulfilled. Christians all over the world today will read/hear/see the passion. In each SOMEBODY has to be Pilate and many will need to chant ‘crucify him, crucify him!’ I once had a student fresh from Syria who heard a tray full of food crash in the cafeteria and hit the ground covering her head in fear – then nearly cried from embarrassment and ran out. A few moments later in guidance [with a translator] I pointed out that her rapid fight/flight/duck response was a gift from god that kept her alive when she needed it and her shame over it was unwarranted- perhaps ungrateful. Your ability to write columns so often and so well is a gift too and one that serves so many. It’s OK to ponder its appropriateness once in a while, but don’t beat yourself up over it! Your venting is a release for many of us too and spares the people around us.

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  3. I would have been one of the crowd waving palms and shouting Hosannas on Sunday and more than likely screaming for Barabass on Friday, God help me.

    1. I believe “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And I just got nailed on Truth Social yesterday for saulting a post on Lazarus Saturday, someone who had to push her brand of faith on others, and in a nasty tone to match. Did I back off, say a little prayer for her and her obvious lack of tact and humility if not self-confidence? No. I retorted that if she didn’t celebrate Easter, no colored eggs, lamb, or treats for her!

      1. More coffee.

        The guy posted about Lazarus Saturday. I posted “Christos Anesti” along with an icon of Jesus leaving the tomb. She came in all preachy, with her own interpretation of Scripture, closing it with, “Don’t blame me. HE said it!” That’s when I threatened to cut off her lamb and chocolate bunny supply.

    2. Amen. You’d probably see me there too, Pat. The world we are in now is no different than “back then.” We find it harder and harder to be faithful to our belief and to stand firm when all around us is disbelief and secularist attitudes.

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  5. At least you are aware of the conflicts between your life, your beliefs, and your work. You try to live your faith. We are all works in progress to our last moments. How many others are not aware of the conflicts, have no faith, and don’t even care?

  6. “Outside as dawn breaks there is a gray sky and black limbs of trees. Closing my eyes, I can see the places where I fall, and I ask for mercy.”

    This is the essence of the self-introspective journey of Lent.

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  7. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

    1 Timothy 1:15

  8. John, I left my surgical practice for 8 years to serve in Congress (self term limited). Sure there are chumbalones in politics just as there are in every field. However, you should know that there are many worthy and upright people serving in Congress because they have an idealism about public service. They aren’t usually the ones you see shouting expletives but are working at night, studying up for their hearing the next day. I don’t regret for one moment that my obituary will say I served Iowa in Congress. I met so many wonderful people in running for office that I would have never met otherwise. These are people that volunteer because they love our country. They figure it is their duty to help this Republic thrive. If we always criticize politicians it gets harder to recruit good people to run for office which requires many sacrifices anyway. Thanks for your contemplative column at this Holy time of year. Greg Ganske

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  9. Not only did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, with many calling out “Hosanna to the Son of David….” he also went into the temple and started overturning tables and calling out hipocacy. We who praise Jesus Christ of the Holy Trinity should also call out those who blaspheme His name. Those who only have exterior Christianity should be called to account. Praise the Lord this week for His sacrifice… and genuinely live out your faith for the next 365 days. It will change your life!

  10. I’m old enough to remember that Palm Sunday was so revered in our family it was rotated with all the other major holidays among my mother and aunts as to who would host Palm Sunday dinner. It’s great to be self reflective about Lent but I tend to agree with your old colleague at “the paper,” Kristin McQueary, I think God gives you dispensation for writing nasty pieces or drawing nasty political cartoons for the nasty politicians. After all, as I write this, most of us do reside in Hellinois, or at least did at one time!

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  11. Meat AND Cheese? all those cheese sandwiches on Fridays as a kid were wrong? I’m going to straight to hell!! (not really)

    John, teh same conflicts for a Christian soldier or cop who has to shoot someone. Hopefully God understands.

  12. I you love and believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and speak the truth without slander. You are not a failure. We are all sinners. God still loves us. Happy Easter John.

  13. Kali Anastasi, John. All said so well. Staying true to our beliefs is hard. To quote St Paul, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” So often, this is ME. I pray I can use this time to reflect, celebrate the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and TRY to life my beliefs more truly.

  15. Γιάννη,
    Thanks for an inspiring message this Holy Day. I was unable to attend services today due to some recent health issues, which I pray will subside. I wish you and your entire οικογένεια, Καλή Ανάσταση and Καλο Πάσχα!

  17. Hi John,
    You write. We read. As we age we all realize that we have an expiration date which is unknown to us. This date humbles us more now than in the past. Tart words and pride do not necessarily make us sinners. It makes us human. Thanks for your words.

  18. I have been following a Lenten devotional on HALLOW.
    Lent is a time of preparation to become more like Christ- to embrace the sufferings, disappointments and tough times we face in life – to become more like Christ. Only by living through life’s valleys and deserts are we able to grow closer to Christ. We all have those wonderful monumental moments, but only after we’ve spent in the desert in preparation.
    Happy Easter.

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