Dear Parish Family,

 

Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent. For many of us

this is a time of renewal,  a time for prayer, fasting and works of love. We

do not wear ashes as a way to proclaim holiness, but to acknowledge that

we are sinners who are in need of repentance and renewal. Ash Wednesday

and Good Friday are both days of fasting.

 

Some of us remember our childhood days, and of our parents reminding us to

give up something for Lent. My mother simply would not allow my sacrifice

of giving up lima beans. She always encouraged us to do something for

others in a special way. The phrase “works of love” are particularly appropriate

for the season of Lent. How many times, did we give up sweets or candy,

when our sacrifice should have been to be kinder to our annoying siblings?

We laugh as we think of the indulgence of Paczki on “fat Tuesday”, which helps

take the sting out of the abstinence of sweets, if that is our sacrifice for the

next forty days.

 

In (Jeremiah 29:11) we are told  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares

the Lord, plans to prosper you and plans to give you hope and a future.”

God knows His plan for each of us – are we listening? Isn’t this a time to

start again to nourish our faith through the exploration of prayer and

meditation and to discover who we are?

 

The season of Lent reminds us of the sacrifice and departure of Jesus into the

desert for 40 days. Let us embrace Lent as a way of preparation for Easter.

 

Mary Jo