For example, have you ever noticed how intrigued kids are with caterpillars? Long before they turn into butterflies, these odd-looking, fuzzy creatures have already captured young people’s imaginations. Then, when they find out that these insects turn into beautiful butterflies, their fascination turns into admiration and fantasy. What was once a funny looking cross between a worm and an insect has turned into a thing of grace and beauty.
Part of the reason why caterpillars and butterflies are so appealing is the transformation they undergo. Once unattractive and bound to the earth, they turn into beautiful creatures that can fly with the wind. That’s probably why many parishes use the caterpillar as a symbol for the season of Lent. During this special season, the Church urges us to undergo a transformation of our own a transformation that frees us a little more from the ways of this world and unites us a little more closely to Jesus.