ASH WEDNESDAY
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and as we continue to come out from the darkness of the pandemic we are beginning the Penitential Season of Lent. This is the first time in nearly 2 years that we will be celebrating Lent and Easter properly with all the possibilities they provide for us. The vestments colour changes from the hopeful green of ordinary time to the penitential purple of Lent and the cry of this day and the whole of the next six weeks is repent and believe in the good news. For many of us we will be leaving things behind for the 6 weeks of Lent and we will also be taking up many things as well to revive our spiritual selves. During the season of Lent we take stock of where we are in our lives and where we really need to be as people who believe in God. As we continue our Faith journey during the 40 days of Lent we are invited to recommit ourselves fully to God and his ways remembering that god’s ways are not our ways.
Jesus preaches “Metanoia” that is Repentance or Coming back. Coming back to God requires change of heart, mind and Spirit. The six weeks of Lent are a time of spiritual refreshment, a time of repentance and also a time of renewal that prepare us for Holy Week and Easter as well as everything else. Will the ashes we receive on ash Wednesday be ashes that help us change our ways and our not so good habits or will they make little or no difference to our daily lives. Let us ask ourselves whether we are open to be changed as people of faith so we will be able to enter more fully into the great ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter when they come around. There is much work to be done as we begin lent so let us not be afraid to take up the challenges we are offered and there will be many. Among those will be the early morning Mass, the alms giving to the Charitable organizations like Trocaire and Cafod as well as the various programs offered at parish and pastoral area levels and all of this is good. Now however it over to each person to make up his/her mind regarding what you want to do in 2022 to make Lent spiritually special for you.
Fullerton T 