At the risk of sounding strange I have to say, “I’m ready for Lent.” During Lent I find myself living more intentionally. For example I choose to avoid eating between meals. This often difficult practice calls me to face parts of my life I use food to hide from. As I commit to giving alms my abundance calls me to gratitude. Lent holds a mirror to my wining as prayer makes clear the power of God’s love. Lent also reminds me that Easter is but a little over forty days away. This year, I need that prompt.
As I begin Lent there are a few situations I wonder about. For example why on Ash Wednesday, as we leave church with ashes smeared on our foreheads, is the Gospel for the day the passage from Matthew which says, “’Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.’” (Mt. 6:1)
I still don’t understand why the world is so filled with violence and hate. I still don’t understand why some people are hungry while others eat more than their fill.
The “Little Black Book,” in the reflection on Ash Wednesday says Lent looks two ways. “We look to our mixed past—joys, and sorrows, successes and failures, good deeds and sins. But we also look to our future – the great feast of Easter and the assured victory of life over all forms of death.”
I am ready for Lent to help me prepare to celebrate the great feast of Easter, for sometimes it is hard to remember the assured victory of life over ALL forms of death.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. (Ps. 51 see 3a)
You will find the readings for the day on the US Bishops’ web site here: