Ash Wednesday

  

 *picture from http://www.zimbio.com/The+Roman+Catholic+Church/articles/y4_9voT7aI_/Newman+hosts+Ash+Wednesday+service+Quad

Happy Ash Wednesday! 

Keep that smile on your face while your stomach growls and your wallet empties. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them." And remember: "When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others." (From Ash Wednesday Gospel reading) They have received their reward. But when you do these things in secret, God the Father will see you do them in secret, and He will reward you in Heaven.

Another reason to be happy is when you are reminded that "Everything goes to the same place, everything comes from the dust, everything returns to the dust." (Ecclesiastes 3:20) There is more than this. There is a place beyond this suffering, cruel, and disappointing world. We were made for something more than this mundane life. Our souls were created for more than this. They were made to last forever. They were brought into existence so that we could glorify God with every breath and with every thought. "Even now the LORD says, 'Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning...'" (From Ash Wednesday First Reading) This Lent, let us return to Him. Let us learn to love Him in a deeper way with all our hearts. This Lent, let us not forget what is most important. Let us be daily reminded that we are God's sons and daughters. We were created to bring the light of Christ into the world and to show others the way to Christ. This Lent, I pray that we will better know the way, go the way, 

and show the way.

"Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God....Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (From Ash Wednesday Second Reading) 

Now is the day of salvation. Now is a very acceptable time for us to turn to God with our whole hearts. Let us run to Jesus, for His arms are wide open, and His heart is gushing forth with mercy for your soul. "I will never reject a contrite heart." (Jesus' words to Saint Faustina) He just wants you to draw closer to Him and His Sacred Heart.

Go to Him. Run into His arms and let Him hold you like a father holds his son. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:24) Let us live our lives in such a way, beginning this Lent, that we will get the prize. Christ is the greatest prize anyone could ever hope for.

May Mary help you to completely fall in love with Christ this Lent.