Theme: Lent — A Call To Holy Discipline And Renewal
Many of us are afraid to embrace a disciplined life. We hear the word discipline and immediately think of hard work, sacrifice, and endless drudgery. Yet in every area of life—whether in our families, our work, or our health—discipline is necessary if things are to be put right. Without it, life easily becomes scattered, unfocused, and unfruitful.
In our journey of faith, the season of Lent is given to us as a sacred checkpoint. It is a time to pause, to get our bearings, and to assess our progress. Lent helps us develop the discipline we need to make real changes—changes that place us back on the path toward God and toward a more faithful and fruitful life. Far from being a burden, Lent is an invitation to freedom: freedom from sin, distraction, and habits that pull us away from God.
Today, on Ash Wednesday, we begin this journey marked with ashes. The ashes used today are made from the palms blessed on the previous Palm Sunday. The priest blesses these ashes and traces the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads, saying, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return,” Or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” By receiving ashes, we openly confess that we are sinners in need of God’s mercy. We acknowledge our need for forgiveness and renewal.
Ashes remind us of a simple but sobering truth: we are mortal. Our lives are brief and unpredictable. One day, our bodies will return to dust. This is not meant to frighten us, but to awaken us—to help us live with humility, honesty, and purpose.
In Scripture, ashes are often a sign of sinfulness and judgment. Seeing the dishonest trade, idol worship, and corruption of Israel, God declared, “I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you” (Eze 28:18). Ashes are also a sign of sorrow and repentance. Tamar placed ashes on her head in her grief (2 Sam 13:19). Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes and cried out loudly in the city (Esther 4:1). These gestures were outward signs of an inner reality—a heart broken and in need of God.
But Lent calls us to go deeper. It is not enough to feel sorry or to express regret outwardly. True repentance means recognizing our sinful condition and turning back to our loving and forgiving God. Jesus gives us this image in the parable of the prodigal son, who not only felt remorse but rose up and returned to his father, trusting in mercy and love (Luke 15:11–32).
As we begin this holy season, let us embrace the discipline of Lent—not as drudgery, but as a path to renewal. May these ashes mark not just our foreheads, but our hearts, leading us back to God and to the new life He desires for us.
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Wonderful explanation of Lent!