Friends, Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a significant period of preparation for Easter in the Catholic Church. It is a solemn day that sets the tone for repentance and spiritual reflection. As Christians, we use this time to reflect on our lives, seek forgiveness, and renew our commitment to our faith. On Ash Wednesday, we receive ashes on our foreheads, which are made from blessed palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. These ashes serve as a powerful symbol of our mortality and the need for repentance. They remind us that we are dust and to dust, we shall return. This practice finds its roots in the Scriptures, where ashes were used as a sign of mourning and repentance. During the 40 days of Lent, we are called to turn away from sin and turn towards God. It is a time of self-examination, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Friends, Ashes hold deep symbolism in the Catholic Church, representing both our mortality and the need for repentance. This powerful symbol finds its roots in the Scriptures, where ashes were used as a sign of mourning and repentance. In the Old Testament, ashes were often associated with expressions of grief and sorrow. Job, for example, sat in ashes as a sign of his deep mourning and repentance before God. The prophet Daniel also fasted and covered himself in ashes as a way of seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sins of his people. These practices served as a visible reminder of the need to turn away from sin and return to God. As the priest or minister applies the ashes, they say the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This solemn reminder prompts us to reflect on the brevity of life and the importance of living by God’s will. The ashes also symbolize the need for repentance. They serve as a visible sign of our desire to turn away from sin and seek forgiveness. Brothers and sisters, as we begin the season of Lent this Ash Wednesday, the symbolism of ashes invites us to reflect on our mortality and the need for repentance. It reminds us that our time on earth is limited and that we must use it wisely to grow in holiness and draw closer to God. Let us embrace this symbol as a call to turn away from sin and embrace a life of conversion and renewal.
Friends, fasting and abstinence are important practices observed on Ash Wednesday, as outlined by the Church. These practices often raise questions and misconceptions, but they serve a purpose in our spiritual growth. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. It is important to understand that fasting and abstinence are not meant to be burdensome or legalistic. They are tools for self-discipline and self-control, helping us to redirect our desires towards God. These practices create space in our lives for prayer, reflection, and repentance.
Friends, let us approach this Ash Wednesday and the entire Lenten season with open hearts and minds, ready to receive God’s grace and guidance. May we use this time to draw closer to Him, to seek His will for our lives, and to be transformed by His love. May this season of Lent be a time of spiritual growth, renewal, and a deepening of our faith. In the words of Saint Augustine, “God does not require us to succeed, He only requires that you try.” So let us embark on this journey of Lent with a humble and willing spirit, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. May this season be a time of transformation and renewal in our lives.
By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
I wish you a fruitful and prayerful Lenten season
