Ash Wednesday
We can often identify someone by what they wear. We know when we see a police officer in uniform or when we see a priest in his collar. Many times we can identify a Jewish or Muslim person of faith based on what they wear. But what do you, as a Christian, wear to let other people know who you are?
Ideally, we show we are Christians by the way that we love. Our uniform is the loving presence of the Holy Spirit that we allow to influence our thoughts, words, and actions. That is the same Holy Spirit that descended upon the Apostles 2,000 years ago and continues to reside in you today. And it is the same Holy Spirit who floods us with the presence of God for all to see, though not visibly.
There is one day a year when we, as faithful Christians, choose to visibly mark ourselves. We wear ashes on our foreheads to remind ourselves (and others) that we belong to Christ. Happy Ash Wednesday.
Ashes?
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” Genesis 3:19
Sometimes, we mark things that belong to us. We may put our name on a book or our lunch so others know that it is ours. And you, when blessed with ashes on Ash Wednesday, are marked as belonging to Jesus Christ.
While it may feel a bit embarrassing to walk around in public with what appears to be a smudge of dirt on our face, we should wear it with pride. We often have no problem wearing a nice gold cross on a necklace, so we too should feel honored to bear the sign of the cross, on which Christ died for us.
The ashes, a sign that we belong to Christ, mark the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. They symbolize our mortality and remind us of the need to always turn our hearts to God.
As Christians, we should remember that while we are in the world, we are not of the world. While our time in this world is limited, we can look with hope to an eternity with God.
During Lent, we pray and take up practices to remind us of that.
Lent is marked by three pillars:
• Prayer. Why pray?
All relationships deepen with communication. We wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with someone who only comes to us when we need something. In the same way, let’s evaluate our relationship with the Lord and ask ourselves if we only come to Him when we need something. If that is the case, that’s alright. Let us use Lent as a time to listen to Him. Let us ask Him to reveal to us His desire for our lives and how we can serve Him better.
• Fasting. Why fast?
A bit of sacrifice is not a bad thing for us! We choose to take up a small amount of voluntary suffering in order to unite ourselves to the cross, and grow in our relationship with the Lord. He willingly took on suffering, to the point of death, to unite Himself to us. In turn, the Church only asks us to Guidelines for fasting two days every year: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
(Note: If you are under 18, the discipline of fasting from food may not apply to you. It is good to consult the Church recommendations on this matter: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence)
• Almsgiving. What’s that?
Put simply, it is giving ourselves to others. When we consider how Christ gave Himself for us on the cross, we should be able to think of small ways that we can give ourselves to others during this Lenten season. Perhaps we can donate some money to a charitable cause, perhaps we can help our families around the house a little more, perhaps we can find a way to volunteer in church, school, or our community. When we give ourselves to others, we give ourselves to God.
Regardless of what practices we take up for Lent, or what things we give up, let’s remember that we are moving toward something very special. We are moving a little closer toward Holy Week, where we recount the final days of the life of Christ. We are moving a little closer toward the Resurrection, where we unite ourselves to Christ on the cross. And we are moving a little closer to Heaven. God became one of us. And one day, we will become one with Him.
