Catholics will flock to Churches in droves today to receive ashes, the very visible sign that marks the beginning of Lent. They remind us that indeed we are dust and to dust we shall someday return. Thus, the need to repent and believe the Gospel becomes more imperative, for someday we will face our Creator and have to give an account of our stewardship of the many gifts and blessings he has bestowed on us. Rather than be a sign of gloom and rigor, these ashes should remind us that Lent is a time to live our Christian life to the fullest and thus should be a time of joy and generosity: joyful in the presence of God with whom we try to spend more time; joyful presence to others as we move "out of ourselves and selfishness", to serve them and give alms to help them. As Jesus warns us, it is a time to do these things quietly and without fanfare, so that our Father who sees in secret, will be the one to repay us, not the audiences of our contemporaries. (see Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18). Our ashes and our joy are visible to all, but let our prayers and penances be visible only to our Father.
Bro. Rene
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