Ash Wednesday
Today we begin the season of Lent, the Paschal Season of the Church year. For the next 40 days, we prepare once again for our annual celebration of the feasts of our Redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
As we begin the season of Lent, we really have our eyes on spring, Lent orients us toward spring—a time when we look forward to and experience new growth in nature. It is a time for the greening of fields and trees—a time of new life. The same is true of what we are about during Lent.
The first preface for Lent puts it well:
Each year You give us this joyful season
when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for You, our Father,
and of willing service to our neighbor.
We are looking for new life, renewed faith, and lively hope as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter—the highest feast of the year.
So, during spring, and especially during Lent, we prepare for that growth. We rake away the old to make ready for what is new.
Today’s scriptures set us on the path that we will follow during the coming 40 days.
The prophet Joel proclaims a fast and calls the people to do penance, saying, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a fast, call an assembly.” Bring everyone together. Let everyone do penance. Why? To follow the designs of our loving God, “return to me with your whole heart … rend your hearts, not your garments.”
In other words, let your hearts be moved with sorrow for sin, with a desire to leave sin behind. Open your hearts. Open your hearts to be transformed. Let the Lord enter once again into your heart and into your life.
St. Paul puts it clearly to the Corinthians. “NOW is the acceptable time! Now the day of salvation.” Let’s not put off our turning to the Lord, our renewal of mind and heart. This is the time of our salvation and our deliverance.
May this holy season bring us the blessings of the Lord’s forgiveness, mercy, love, and the gift of new and abundant growth in our hearts and lead us to the joy of Easter.
Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Lenten Resources