Lent: A time of reflection and anticipation

We have begun my favorite liturgical season: Lent. I love Lent for a number of reasons: the music, the simplicity and the use of Latin for the Mass parts. However, the primary reason Lent is my favorite liturgical season is the twofold focus of the season.

Lent is the time for us to reflect on our sinfulness. We know we are sinners but often we do not think about what that means. It is central to our understanding of Lent. The words spoken on Ash Wednesday when we receive the ashes should call to mind our sin. The priest says, "Remember, man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return." These words are taken directly from Genesis 3:19 just after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. God tells them that they will die and return to the dust from which they are made. They die because of the sin they committed. So, Ash Wednesday should take us back to the first sin of man and remind us that we continue to perpetuate that original sin today.

At the same time we reflect on our sinfulness, we also reflect on the salvation won for us by the death of Christ on the cross. We prepare and anticipate the Tridiuum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil - and Easter Sunday. We recognize the connection of our sinfulness to our salvation in Lent.

This connection can be seen in the reception of the ashes. While the ashes remind us of our mortality, they also remind us of our salvation. They are placed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross. The placement on the forehead also symbolizes a blessing.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent by reminding us that this is our time of reflection of our sinfulness and anticipation of our salvation. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 22:23 | link | comments |