Remember, you are dust...

I sit at my desk typing this blog this afternoon "marked with the sign of faith" as are many other Catholics this day. The ashes on my forehead and on all Catholics today is a proud declaration of our faith. I have been assisting at the Cathedral for the Masses today and I was humbled by the number of people who came to our early Masses before going to work. All these people entered their workplace today proudly identifying themselves as Catholic and a witness to the faith.

The beginning of Lent is the one liturgical season that is not too difficult to figure out if you encounter any Catholics. The sign of the cross in black ash on the foreheads of all Catholics announces that Lent has begun. It announces to the world that in order to truly celebrate Easter, we must first reflect on our need for the Sacrifice of Christ because of our sin. We must reflect on our humanity and our mortality. We are reminded of this in the words spoken when the ashes are imposed on our foreheads: "Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return." We must prepare for Easter by first recognizing our own sin, by seeking to perform acts of penance and by giving of ourself - even in a small way - as we near the day in which Jesus gave his very self - heart, mind, soul and body - for our sins.

For me, Lent is one of the most fruitful in the growth of my faith. It is during Lent that I am able to reflect on my mortality, not in a morbid way, but with a true realization that it is only because of Jesus that I have eternal life rather than the death we all deserve because of sin. Fasting, abstinence and self denial help to reduce the focus on my wants and needs and directs my focus instead on Jesus Christ. Our minor sacrifices are but a mere shadow of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on Good Friday. In the words of John the Baptist, it is in Lent that "He must increase; I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30). May this Lenten season be a time for us to decrease in our own selfishness and self-focus and that Jesus may increase in our hearts and in our lives. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 14:02 | link | comments |
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