Ash Wednesday 2010

Every year, on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust', and we shall all return to where we came from.

This is particularly poignant this year. A friend passed away recently. As I read how so many of her friends and family continued
to pray for her and kept vigil at her bedside till her last breath, one thing crossed my mind...

What was she thinking all this time at the hospital?
- her studies?
- relationships yet un-mended?
- unfinished business?
- her work?
- her life flashed across her?

When I was informed of her eventual departure from this world into the next, I cannot help but shed tears. We weren't that close as friends, in fact I can count the number of times we met face to face. But somewhere in my inner being, I connected with her as I faced my own poverty.

What would I have done if I were in her shoes? Nothing... there was absolutely nothing left to 'do' but just to 'be'. I'm sure in her pain, she might have felt frustrated, that there was nothing she could do.

Looking at her last photo, I saw the serenity on her face. Nothing else mattered now. So why should anything matter so much? Everything is brought to a new perspective. It has encouraged me to de-clutter my life.

This Lent is really a time to reflect on God's Divine Mercy, to acknowledge where I have not been merciful, forgiving, being hard on others and myself, and look with joyful hope that a way had already been created for us to return to the Father.

Here's an excerpt from an email I received, author unknown:
LENT = Leave Every Negative Thing

As you begin this Holy Season, may you discover the true meaning of LENT, by Leaving behind all Negative things of the past and strive for a Future filled with Hope! (Phi 3: 7 – 14).


A Different Approach to Fasting...

Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus' healing touch.
Here are suggestions you may want to consider.

1. Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day.

2. Fast from judging others. Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

3. Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus' promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.

4. Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.

5. Fast from resentment or bitterness! Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.

6. Fast from spending too much money. Try to reduce your spending by ten percent and give those savings to the poor.

Origin of Lent
The forty day period is symbolic of the forty days spent by Moses and Elijah in the wilderness; during the days of Noah God made it rain for forty days and forty nights (they were in the ark for much longer); the Jews wandered forty years traveling to the Promised Land. Jonah in his prophecy of judgment gave the city of Nineveh forty days' grace in which to repent. Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days of temptation to prepare for his ministry.

Customs during the time of Lent
There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigor during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbor).