Where Have All The Ashes Gone?

Yesterday I had the honor of singing at 7:00 PM Mass and I have to tell you that the church was packed. All of us were at the very start of our yearly Lenten pilgrimage. For some of us it will be just a few weeks of trying to remember not to eat meat on Friday.  For some of us it will be a real growing experience.  But for one day anyway we were united.  Our foreheads were marked with the sign of the cross and everyone who care to look could say; "There goes one of those Catholics."  Today, the ashes have disappeared and we have become more or less anonymous, undercover, Catholic Christians again. 

It is okay to anonymous provided we take the time to do what we need to do to fulfill our duties as ambassadors of Christ.  As a matter of fact, the reading yesterday said we should not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when we are doing something good for our neighbors.  So remain anonymous if you want to but do small acts of charity with great love and the beauty of God will shine through your deeds and maybe, just maybe, one of the people you share a kindness with will start to think more about their neighbors, about God, about prayer. 

But don't spend all of your energy on others,  Lent is also a time for you to get in contact with yourself and to deeply think about how God sees you.  It does not matter what the world thinks of you.  All of those in the world (you and me included) will someday pass away.  When we do we will stand before God and he will greet us as a friend or as a judge.  

When I was a child, lent was all about fish sticks and the stations of the cross.  I did not really like either of these things. Going to a Catholic school meant that meatless Friday's were rigidly enforced by the good sisters.  Lunch on Lenten Fridays usually consisted of two fish sticks, a lump of US Government cheese and a peach floating in heavy syrup.  After lunch around two in the afternoon we would silently march next door to the church.  We would endure forty minutes of the Stations of the Cross, standing, genuflecting, listening, and kneeling.  That is all Lent meant to me. 

Today I am happy for two things: First I am an adult and I do not have to eat fish sticks ! ! !  Secondly, I can use these precious forty days to become closer to Jesus.  I can use it to improve myself, and to be of service to the world around me. 

I suggest that you do not give up anything for lent. I suggest that you look for positive ways to grow your soul.  Remember what Mother Teresa of Calcutta said; "Do small things with great love."

God bless you on this second day of Lent.  Waste not a moment. Use this precious season to build yourself up so you can stand firm in the Faith.