Reflections: Ash Wednesday

The season of Lent

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18; 2Cor 5:20-6:2; Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

The word “Lent” comes from an old English word which means “springtime” so it reminds us of spring cleaning and the new life in nature during spring. This season of Lent is a time of special grace for us in which we want to do some spring cleaning in our lives and enjoy new life as a result. 

We want to change our lives during Lent and come closer to Jesus.  Therefore, the church calls this season as a joyful time, because it is our preparation for the future joy of Easter that approaches us bringing his blessings, mercy and forgiveness. To practice sincere repentance, the Lord God tells us to change our hearts. We are called to examine our most inner self, those evil ways that we have to let go, once and for always. We must always remember that our God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not punish us if we are sincere and turn away from our sins. God is not a God of punishment but a God of love to those who strive earnestly to walk in His righteous ways. As we enter the Lenten Season, remember these words every day that our God is a loving and merciful God.

Our Christian life is characterized by these three things together everyday of the year:

Firstly, prayer: The church expects us to give more time to prayer during Lent in order to closer to the Lord. He tells that we must go into our inner room or the quiet hidden place, close the door and pray to God the Father in private so the Heavenly Father may see us in private and reward us accordingly. It is through prayer that we develop a closer, more intimate relationship with God.

Secondly, fasting: Fasting is giving up some favourite food or eating less. Fasting is also to let go of the things that we enjoy. It is to let go of the things that are pleasing to our senses and pleasing to the taste. This reminds us that if we are going to get to heaven we must deny immediate impulses, take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Thirdly, almsgiving: Lent is time to look at the things we spend our money on. Lent is a good time to get rid of some of the clutters in one’s room and of one’s life. When we sacrifice something of our own by giving help to the Community or by reaching out to someone in need in the form of alms giving, our left hand must not know what your right hand is doing. Jesus calls us to do all acts of Charity privately and then forget about it. Hence he uses the imagery of the deed of our right hand that is ready to give and the left hand must not even know about it.

Wish you all a happy and fruitful season of Lent.

(You are most welcome to add your comments and reflections in the section below.)