Today is Ash Wednesday.
Information gathered from Catholic Online: https://www.catholic.org/lent/ashwed.ph
· Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Many Christians, including Catholics, observe Ash Wednesday as a Holy day.
· Ashes also symbolize grief, e.g., grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Ash Wednesday is a day of penitential prayer and fasting. Some faithful take the rest of the day off work and remain home. It is generally inappropriate to dine out, to shop, or to go about in public after receiving the ashes. Feasting is highly inappropriate. Small children, the elderly and sick are exempt from this observance.
· Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Many give up something for lent to represent the tradition of fasting that is part of Lent. As we march forward the 46 days to Easter Sunday, why not also see the goodness and beauty of God right before us. If you choose to fast from something that you feel will help provide some strengthening of your soul, why not also choose to FEAST on God. That will surely strengthen your soul during this time as well.
Please read the selected devotional from Henri Nouwen Society at the link below.
Seeing the Beauty and Goodness in Front of Us – Henri Nouwen Society
We don’t have to go far to find the treasure we are seeking. There is beauty and goodness right where we are….read…read more
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