great ordinary happenings

Today, is an important milestone in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, as it celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season. Most churches are filled with people to attend the Holy Mass and receive ashes.

Each is crossed with it on his forehead, as he hears the words: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” This serves as a reminder that “dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return”. We have to veer away from committing sin – man’s disobedience of God, and the separation of man from God – and in our daily living, we should put into action the teachings of Jesus Christ, which are laid down for us in the Gospel, which can be found in the Holy Bible and taught by the Church.

“Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is He,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.” – taken from the 1st Reading of today’s Gospel

In the priest’s homily of today’s Holy Mass, he gave meaning to each letter of the word A-S-H (for us Catholics):

A – Admit that we have sinned. Before one can repent for a sin committed, he has first to admit that he has sinned, so he has something to ask forgiveness for. For how can one seek forgiveness if there is nothing that he has repented for? For how can one repent if for him, he has not committed any sin at all?

To admit that one has sinned is courage and strength, plus humility. Only by God’s grace can we admit, and for this, prayer is needed. We admit that we are imperfect and we bow down to the Maker for “repair”. We have to reconcile with our Creator to enjoy once again His grace, and the “joy of His Salvation”.

S – Step out and step forward to declare that we are followers of Christ. We Catholics make the sign of the Cross even publicly when called for, as a declaration that we believe in the power of Christ’s dying on the Cross – His death and Resurrection – leading to our Salvation. For those who believe, they experience the power, but for those who don’t, as they disbelieve so it is for them.

Once a year, on Ash Wednesday’s, we are given the chance to declare our faith with this Cross of ashes on our foreheads, aside from its being a reminder.

H – Hope. Christians are people of Hope. By Jesus’ resurrection, He has opened the gates of heaven, so now we can hope for eternal life, a life with God in His Kingdom up above!

“So that having been justified by His grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:7 (NIV)

Yes, Christians have hope in God’s promises!

“But in keeping with His promise
we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,
the home of righteousness.”
2 Peter3:13 (NIV)

The Word of God, the Holy Bible, is replete with God’s promises which are given only to those who obey Him, to those who do His will.

Filed under: Bible sharing, Gospel sharing, reflections