Nothing speaks so eloquently about the joy of celebration as the face of a masquerader captivated by the strains of some sweet calypso or soca music; nothing, for many, matches the excitement that a steelband instills in them at a Panorama final.

The ability to express this peculiar joy and excitement in the ways our people do is pure gift, a gift of God. It is important to remember that.

In today's gospel, some people come to Jesus and ask why his disciples are not fasting like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. Jesus, identifying himself as the bridegroom, responds with a question: “ Surely the bridegroom's attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them? ” (Mark 2:19 ) The reason why Jesus' disciples act differently is because the bridegroom is with them. The bridegroom is still with us.

It is because of his presence that those who participate in Carnival must continually seek to do so in ways that do not give offence to God. It is the only Catholic way to behave.

In the gospel passage, Jesus could conceivably have responded by asking the objectors, “Tell me, why are you fasting?”—just to see if they understood why they were doing what they were doing. In other words, “Why are you not entering into the joy of the moment?” He did not ask the question that way then. He might today.

For as many people who participate in Carnival there are as many who seek to get as far away from the spectacle as possible. Many who do so are appalled by what too often passes for entertainment and having a good time—by the forgetting of the One who is among us.

In today's Carnival environment, therefore, those who choose not to participate may have justifiable reasons for their stance. The possibility of this forgetfulness must have been present throughout our Carnival history, but the climate today is surely more irreligious than it has ever been.

Our dailies seem to have no difficulty finding photographs that demonstrate this fact. The joy and the excitement that are often captured all too frequently arise out of a mistaken sense of freedom—a freedom to do as one pleases—to give to sheer thrill what does not belong to it.

In the end, the kind of excitement that some seek may rob others of experiencing the gift of true joy present in Carnival. This is a serious predicament and a loss.

The Lenten compass

With Ash Wednesday comes a very special opportunity to set aside all that may distract us from who we really are and who God is. It is a moment for members of the Christian family to take their spiritual bearings. Each one needs the Lenten compass. It is unwise to try to do without it.

Last week we drew attention to the growing trend to allow Carnival to influence our Lent—at least how we begin it. Lent brings us back to what is important, helps us to see beyond the transitory. Lent embodies the Christian hope which tells us that no one can wander so far away that he or she cannot find the way back.

May you find it possible to experience true joy this Carnival. May Lent bring our nation and our people many blessings. It will, as we return to him this Lent. “ Now is an acceptable time ” (Joel 6:2).