Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday we begin “The Forty Days” as it is called elsewhere in the world. That period in our liturgical year in which we do what we can call annual maintenance of the soul and spirit. The scripture on Ash Wednesday is rich with instructions for the faithful on the three main actions we take in this season; prayer, fasting, and alms giving. The “what’s” and “how’s” are given to us in detail. It is the “why” that is left up to us and it is that “Why” that gives us the most trouble.

During our Lenten journey we are to repair our spiritual selves by examining our past actions and correcting them against the base-line of right actions found in scripture and the teaching magisterium of the Church. It is openly examining our actions that become problematic. This is true for a couple of reasons;

1. first, we can’t remember all of the things we have done if we are only looking back during lent;
2. second, we can rationalize what we have done so it does not appear to be a problem.

There is a solution. Our reflection must be consent during the whole year and during lent, we review where we are and pledge to go forward. We look at each facet of our lives – work, family, social, and spiritual and ask; Is this what God wants me to do and if not what must I change? It’s not easy, but then we have forty days.

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence in the Church. We will not be required to refrain from eating, and abstain from meat again until Good Friday, the day after Lent ends. Let us offer our hunger to those for whom hunger is constant. We offer our goods for those who have none. We offer our prayers for all peoples, that they too might turn away from sin and return to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

From: Servant of The Word