Can you believe it?? We are already beginning the third week of the liturgical season of Lent! The essence of this time of grace is captured for us in both of the phrases either one of which was prayed over us as the blessed ashes were placed on our foreheads in the sign of the Cross this past Ash Wednesday:
“Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
The first formula reminds us of our need for ongoing conversion. “What?” you say, “But I’m already a Catholic!” Yes, we are indeed already members of the Catholic Church. But we are always engaged in the process of what the Scriptures call metanoia, of turning away from the sinful attitudes and actions in our lives and turning more fully toward the Lord, becoming more Christ-like, living the Lord’s Gospel of love more faithfully and more consistently.
The second formula for the imposition of blessed ashes reminds us of a fundamental truth we often don’t like to face, that we are mortal and that our pilgrimage on this earth will eventually come to an end on a day and in a manner known only to God. This realization is not meant to frighten us or depress us, but it is the somber acknowledgement of the truth that each of us will die and come face to face with God, our just and merciful judge when we will render an account of our stewardship of the gifts He entrusted to us in this life.
So, given the Church’s renewed call to ongoing conversion and the reminder about our own mortality, we must ask ourselves, “How am I engaging in the Lenten season this year?” The Church’s vision for Lent goes way beyond the simple giving up of something like candy or beer or a favorite TV show just for these 40 days. The deeper challenge is to commit ourselves to some form of prayer, penance, self-denial and charitable action that will lead us to a more permanent change of attitude or behavior in our lives, one that will help us become more Christ-like from this point forward, one that will enable us to be more faithful disciples of the One whose Resurrection we are preparing to celebrate anew this Easter Sunday.
If any of us haven’t yet started our Lenten observance in earnest, don’t despair! It’s only the beginning of the third week. There’s still time to get serious about Lent, to spend more time in prayer, to engage in some form of meaningful penance, to make plans to encounter the Sacrament of Reconciliation (i.e., go to Confession) before Easter. May each of us be truly open to the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit for the remainder of this Lenten season and always!
With a brother’s love in the Lord and Mary Immaculate,