Ash Wednesday

A Self-Directed Reflection from
The St. Joseph Retreat Center
with Anne Louis De Palo

As we prepare for Easter, the St. Joseph Retreat Center will be sharing weekly reflections during Lent. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to hearing from you in this time of fasting and reflection.

TIME FOR A RESET

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Joel 2:12 – "Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, with weeping, and mourning."

Psalm 51:12 – "A clean heart create for me, O God, and steadfast spirit renew within me."

Psalm 51:14 – "Give me back the joy of your salvation."

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “So that we become the righteous of God in Him."

Matthew 6:18 – "Your Father, who sees what is hidden, will repay you."

Lent seemed to creep up on me this year. Just as I was settling into ordinary time, praying and meditating on what it means to be a disciple of Christ; Mother Church thrusted me into the Penitential Season of Lent. Are we up for the challenge?

As we receive ashes placed on our forehead in the form of a cross, I hear the words, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return."

At the beginning of Advent, we are called to confront our death, end times, and eternity as we prepared for the arrival of Christ. Again, we are called to remember and face our own death. Ashes represent our mortality. There is no life in ground up ashes. At death, our bodies are lifeless, only our soul survives. Eternity awaits. We hope to realize “the joy of salvation,” Psalm 51:14, but will we? Lent gives us the opportunity to answer this question?

The readings invite us “to return to God with our whole heart,” Joel 2:12; and “to become righteous” 2 Corinthians 5:21 – and, in Psalm 51, the psalmist prays for a clean heart, a renewed spirit, and the promise of the joy of salvation. In Matthew 6, Jesus shares how to prepare for eternity: give alms, fast, and pray – the three pillars of Lent.

Lent gives us the opportunity to examine our lives, renew our relationship with Jesus, and see where our choices are not aligned with Christ. It is a time for a reset. Perhaps Pope Benedict the XVI explains – "Jesus shows us the face of God, and in so doing, He shows the path we have to take." This is the path of holiness. Where are you on this path?

Perhaps the approach to this Lent is to meditate and pray on the three pillars of Lent. Where are you lacking and what do you need to renew? Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the keys. Where do you most need to nurture, or what do you need to eradicate from your life to align yourself to Christ? These keys can open the door to greater holiness and spiritual growth. We can never plateau in the spiritual life; we must keep searching and moving closer to Christ.

Let's look at the opportunities the Pillars give to us:

PRAYER

Does your relationship with Christ need more time, attention, and intimacy? If so, focus on prayer for the next 40 days. Spend some time in silence, meditate on scripture, pray, read scripture, attend a retreat, and visit the Blessed Sacrament or attend adoration. Every relationship needs energy, presence, and nourishment. Perhaps try something different from your normal prayer practice. Be open to something new.

ALMS GIVING

Are you reluctant to give away your time, money, talents, and very self? If so, concentrate on alms giving. Try and donate to charity, make a sizeable monetary donation to a charity or make a small donation every day of Lent, serve at a soup kitchen, go through your closet and home and give away something every day. Practice generosity. What resonates with you? Open your heart.

FASTING

Are you having difficulty overcoming a bad habit, an addiction? Or is your life full of worldly attractions? Are you overly busy? Do you lack self-control? Are you complacent? If any of these are relevant, fasting may be the answer. When we fast we open ourselves to God, think less of ourselves and our own comfort and then we will be more inclined to help others. Perhaps fast by skipping a meal, giving up something that you will truly miss or "hurts" to do without– whether it be alcohol, coffee, social media, binge watching, gaming, gambling – you know what will best discipline your mind, body, and spirit. The purpose of fasting is to hunger for God and to discipline our will and our bodies.