Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a season of grace that invites us into a profound reflection of our relationship with God and one another. Over the next forty days, we are called to conversion through the traditional pillars of a holy Lent – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Prayer draws us ever deeper into an encounter with God. By fasting we create space in our lives for God. Almsgiving helps us move from being self-centered to serving others, like the poor, the hungry, the lonely, and the homeless.
As we receive ashes on our foreheads, let us recall that God created us out of the very dust of the ground (Gen 2:7). The ashes recall that dust and show that Lent is not a time of deprivation and sadness; but, rather, a time of renewal in preparation for the Resurrection at Easter. Brothers and sisters, as we begin Lent with such a visible sign of our faith, we trust that God’s steadfast love and mercy will sustain us during this holy season.