Dear Parishioners:

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which begins the holy season of Lent. One thing I find amazing about this day is that so many people come back to church who do not normally fulfill their duty of attending weekly, and even some people try to time when they are going to be there in order to “get their ashes”. As many of you already know, ashes do not save you. However, if people are going to be at Mass who do not normally come to Mass, I am willing to preach to them and point out the meaning of this day.

Since ancient times, people have put ashes on their faces to show mourning and penance. (see Jeramiah 6:22-26) They remind us that this world is not going to last forever. This is reflected in one of the formulas used to place the ashes on Ash Wednesday. The minister may say, “You are dust and unto dust you shall return.” It is a reminder that we will die someday and turn into dust.

This message is something we all need to hear because American culture does not like to think about the reality of death. We idolize youth and healthiness. We are more concerned with politics than if we are going to heaven. We try to turn funerals into “celebrations of life” instead of a time to pray for someone’s soul and mourn their loss. We avoid bad feelings like sadness and boredom. We do not know how to deal with suffering when it comes to us. We do not even recognize our own sins when it is time to make a good confession, offering excuses instead of humbly admitting our faults.

Ash Wednesday brings us back to reality of what exactly we have fallen into. We are caught in the quicksand of sin and death and we cannot escape it until we depend on something outside of this life to save us. We cannot even understand how merciful and good God is for saving us until we realize how hopeless our situation is without Him. It is like we have a deadly illness and we are ignoring the life saving medication that is easily obtained.

I hope that we can make this Lent a time of really opening your heart to God. Please take a moment and reflect on those things really keeping you from following Him more firmly and repent from them. Reflect on His goodness and all that He gives you. Make a good confession. If you have a penitential Lent, you will have a joyful Easter.

God bless!

Fr. Carter