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.
Understanding Ash Wednesday
- By wearing Ashes, we recall our baptism,
and our welcoming of Jesus into our lives as
we prepare ourselves for Easter.
- Lent is a reminder to all of us of our baptismal
call.
- Wearing ashes is a sign that we remember
God's love and our promises and we are returning
to the hope and joy of God's call.
- Ash Wednesday is important because it begins
the journey of Lent toward Easter.
When
we wear Ashes, we show. . .
- Our willingness to hear and follow God's
call
- We take time to pray and to seek God's
guidance in our lives.
- Our turning to God which
includes turning in love toward our neighbors
through acts of justice, compassion and service
- We take time to consider our choices
and to look at our relationships for
ways to be more loving, more fair, more
forgiving and more compassionate.
- We take time to share God's love through
acts of service and justice.
- Our belief in the Easter promise that
we share in Jesus' resurrection
- We prepare for renewing our baptismal
promises during the Easter liturgies.
- As we observe Lent with serious and
sometimes somber attention to this season,
we also keep our eyes and hearts fixed
on the hope and joy of Easter - we know
how the story comes out!
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