As it is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten Season, I’d like to reflect on this Church Tradition, and I’d like to invite you to reflect with me.
What are the first things that come to mind when we mention Ash Wednesday? For me, it would be:
- The imposition of Ashes.
- The beginning of Lent, when we fast and abstain from meat on assigned days like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Then we abstain from meat as well every Friday for the whole season.
- Praying the Sorrowful Mystery every Sunday of Lent.
- Then the reminder: “From dust, you came, and to dust, you shall return.”
Having grown up in a Catholic family and school, these have been part of our tradition, and I’ve come to embrace certain beliefs which I hold dear and ponder on, especially during Lent.
The fasting and abstaining during the Lenten Season, partnered with alms-giving, are meant to remind us that there are more important things than worldly pleasures and conveniences. We must prioritize spiritual matters, and our faith, our relationship with God, and the salvation of our souls are paramount. So, we must cleanse ourselves of unnecessary worldly pursuits, comforts, and concerns while becoming more aware and concerned about those around us.
Lent is also when we remember that Jesus saved us from sin, and we must atone for our them by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and offering penance.
Now, accompanying these traditions, I’ve also noticed and experienced a certain mindset with how I viewed the Lenten Season before, and, for a time, accepted it without question.
I used to think Lent would be the time to sacrifice and make up for all the sins I committed–sadly, it felt like the focus was on the transgressions committed throughout the year.
Plus, I felt like I had to “look the part” of being sorry for my weakness by putting on a sad face throughout the season, especially during Holy Week itself.
Of course, these would be enveloped in the theme: “From dust, we came, so to dust, we shall return.”
While we are encouraged to acknowledge our sinfulness and seek forgiveness during this season, I, however, sometimes, feel like more focus is placed on how “bad” we were for the rest of the year and how, because of our human flaws and weakness, are destined to end as “dust,” as nothing.
So, in prayer, I raised some questions hopefully to find answers and appreciate our Catholic faith even more:
Is Lent observed because of our “sinfulness” for the rest of the year?
Do we need to literally feel sad and bad even if Jesus has already risen?
Are we reminded that we shall return to dust because we are insignificant and unworthy?
As an advocate of praying the Rosary, I wonder how the different mysteries come into play as we reflect during the Lenten Season.
Well, what I’ve learned from the Rosary is that just like life, we have joyful times and sorrowful times, but we are assured that we shall ultimately surpass the latter and experience glory with God.
As such, I’d like to propose another view to Ash Wednesday…
Yes, with much humility, we accept, even embrace, the fact that we all shall leave this earthly home. Moreover, the fasting, abstaining, and sacrifices that form part of this season remind us that there are things in life we can leave behind and let go of.
Yet, these reminders should not make us feel that we are being punished and that we are destined to return to being dust or notingness in the end.
In fact, I believe that it is the opposite that Ash Wednesday truly highlights.
I believe that the message behind Ash Wednesday is there are bigger, better things for us beyond this earthly life, and if I were to put it in a more contemporary term, we are all lined up for an upgrade in the end… sort of a moving on of sorts… out with the old and in with the new.
Through God’s grace, we will be given a chance to leave our outdated, old self behind and grow into the new self we are meant to be and share in His glory.
After all, the Lord did not come to lay His life for us, only for us to ultimately return to dust or nothingness.
Through Ash Wednesday, we can choose to see God as the Lord of possibilities, opportunities, renewal, and second chances.