Ash Wednesday - March 5, 2025 (Year C)

As we begin our journey in Lent, I figured I would put a quick note out about the readings today for Ash Wednesday and post my regular reflection tomorrow for the weekend's set of readings.  Ash Wednesday has always had a certain "specialness" to it in my life.  Growing up attending a Catholic school, it was a day that marked a change and didn't come with the pomp and circumstance of the other holy days - like Easter, Christmas - but was strictly about the message of the day.  Even my grandparents, who didn't attend mass often and weren't overly religious, fasted on Ash Wednesday and abstained from meat on Fridays throughout Lent.  It is weird how certain days with such outward signs (the fasting throughout the day and/or receiving ashes on your forehead) has a draw to those who long to be a part of it.

However, that is where the readings come in, as we need to have the right conviction and reasons behind the actions.  As Jesus reminds us, it is imperative to have true intentions in our fasting.  We do it to show ourselves that there are more important things than food and to strengthen our relationship with God.  We practice this self-discipline to show the power of our spirit over our body.  The mind must control the flesh, but it is important for the mind to do so with the proper frame of reference, with our salvation in mind.  Our bodies will become dust or ashes as the years march on after our passing, but our souls will continue on, and today is a reminder that we are meant for more than just our time on this world.

 

Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

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