Yesterday was Ash Wednesday...the start of the season of Lent. Many Christians use this time to observe this period with fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline which prepares us for Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. Last night I took my 2 older kids with me to this Mass. We go every year of course and as we received the ashes we are told, "Remember, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shall return." or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." The ashes are a symbol of penance and contrition and we receive these out of devotion and remind us of our mortality. They also remind us that God is gracious and merciful to all who call on Him with repentant hearts. The ashes originated in the Old Testament times
The ashes are made from the blessed palms used on Palm Sunday from the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water before being placed on our foreheads.
My kids asked me almost as soon as they got to their seats if they could wipe them off...they didn't like the ashes on their foreheads. It seems like it made them fidget more. I guess for many it can make us do just that...makes us stop and look deep inside us...for many its a place they just don't want to look.
Lent can be a good time to take that closer look that we might be hesitant or even afraid to do. It can teach us humility...to realize that there are things we need to work on. I know I have a few I'd like to work on. ;) But we need to remember that we can't do this alone. We need to pray to God to help us know what needs to be changed and to help us do it. Something all of us can do is to commit ourselves to be more reflective this Lent. When you find something to work on, pray about it, ask God to help and don't give up if you fall. Just pick yourself up and keep going. Failure isn't in the falling...it's when you don't pick yourself up again that you fail.
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