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Each year on Ash Wednesday, Catholics
begin to observe the season of Lent. Lent is
a traditionally a 40 day period to examine and
renew our spiritual life. It is a time of prayer,
service, and fasting. The 40 days recall the
40 years that the people of Israel wandered in
the wilderness before arriving at the Promise
Land and the 40 days that Jesus spent in the
wilderness after being baptized.
On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes that remind
us of our nature as created beings (Gen 3.19)
- a tradition started by the first Christian
communities to foster repentance for sins and
the desire to follow Christ faithfully. As the
ash cross is made on your forehead, we hear words
that echo John the Baptist's call to conversion, "Turn
away from sin and be faithful to the gospel" We
respond "Amen," meaning "so be
it."
As we move through the season of Lent, how will
you use the 40 days to strengthen your spiritual
life? Make a special commitment and ask God for
the grace to grow from it. |
