Turning from Sin

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. ~ Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Ash Wednesday officially “kicks off” Lent, the journey through the desert of the Passion of Christ prior to the Resurrection on Easter. This is a time of preparing to walk towards Calvary and the tomb with Jesus. Usually a solemn 40 days, the season is not quite as celebratory as Advent and its path to Christmas. Most Catholics still “give up” something but since my time in Africa, I prefer to look at it as “living into” something. I don’t want whatever changes I am trying to make during these 40 days to end but to continue on and be transformed by them.

What am I going to change this Lent? Well, a few things come to mind. I bought a book entitled, change your habits, change your life several months ago and recently noticed that it has a 40-day plan in it. I thought it would be a good time to set it in practice. The book examines healthy living, including food and exercise but goes beyond that to changing unhealthy thoughts and achieving new energy and rest. I will let you know how it goes.

One of the Jesuits gave an excellent homily recently on rumours and reminded us that we should not be talking about other people. He said that trying to take rumours back is like chasing feathers in the wind. I loved that startling image. I am going to work on that a little this Lent again. I had heard the analogy last year and tried hard to live it out. Quite a challenge!! I may try to continue again. I have noticed that I have changed somewhat in that respect but still would like to work even more on changing my habits in this regard.

Lent is really about prayer, fasting and almsgiving on the sacrificial level. I hope to increase my prayer time a little more. I am definitely fasting from food, but there are a few non-edible items I am going to fast from too; gossiping be just one of them. Almsgiving comes in different forms as well, so I am going to try and give my time to certain people more than I normally do. I am preparing a book for publication—not my own, but a selection of writings of a friend to be included in a book. When I fast that is what I will work on instead of the activities that are less healthy for my soul. I also see it as almsgiving since I am doing it for no other purpose than I think this person has much to say that the world needs to hear.

Tonight I will make my way to my church, my community in which I will attempt to live out this plan, and be “ashed” as I say. I will be marked with ashes with the sign of the cross as an outward symbol to show my commitment to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel of Jesus. I pray that for those of us walking this journey this Lent that we will find our way to the solid Rock upon which our faith calls us to stand. Sinning is easy; being faithful is the challenge.

Have a blessed Lenten journey!

Peace,

Suzanne