(Mt 6.1-6.16-18)
Ashes on the heads are not enough, a change of life is needed.
Lenten songs, with their melody and lyrics, are one of the factors that call for a change in approach to everyday things, duties, and values. The song “Approach, approach here sinner, take ashes for repentance” (JKS 125), continues with the words: “you are only dust, to dust you will return. The song “Holy Lent begins” (123), has current thoughts. “He exhorts us to repent, to tame God’s wrath early, to free ourselves from punishment.” (2.) “Let us not only abstain from carnal food, but also protect ourselves from anger, sin, and all iniquity.” After the merry days of Shrove Tuesday, the season of Lent addresses us
seriously and responsibly approach repentance.
Let’s start with the call of the Lord Jesus: “When you go to pray, go into your room, close the door behind you, and pray to your Father who sees even in secret” (Mt 6:6).
In the Gospel, apart from prayer, Jesus talks about fasting and almsgiving. These three practices are the realization of today’s ashes on the heads.
Prayer brings you closer to God. In it and through it we know God, his goodness, love, and mercy. In prayer, we can experience the closeness of God. There comes a time when prayer should take priority over other values that we have prioritized. In particular, joint prayer in the family, among friends, visiting the church even on weekdays, the joint and personal prayer of the Way of the Cross, a meditation on the suffering of the Lord Jesus, praying the painful rosary, studying and reading the Holy Scriptures. This amount can be alternated, used to penetrate the mystery of the love of Christ, who suffered and died for us.
An important factor during Lent is not only abstaining and limiting food but knowing how to share food with those who do not have it. Lent is a time of renunciation, limiting pleasant and permitted things, such as noisy entertainment, watching television, listening to the radio, reading non-spiritual literature, and participating in actions and events where the soul and spiritual life are suppressed or limited. It is recommended to give up things that we normally consume during the year, such as cigarettes, coffee, and alcohol. It is true that this renunciation and restriction is strenuous and requires strong courage, the right motion ve, and free conviction, but also the joy that we are doing something more for the growth of our faith, for the consolidation of moral principles, and the expansion of knowledge about God, the Church, and salvation. In Lent, under the influence of graces, we can make a decision that we did not have the strength to make at other times. To part with sin, especially with a close opportunity for sin, can be things, places, events people. Lent is a time of grace, when looking at the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, we are more open to graces and, under their influence, work on ourselves, strengthen the family, and put relationships in order in the family, among neighbors, friends, and at the workplace.
Lent time can also be used for almsgiving. Not only to put things in order and sort out the unfashionable and unnecessary, but also to be able to give up things to make life easier and more pleasant for others, to make them happy, and to let them feel our love. Alms does not mean giving only from surplus but also being able to accept personal needs. Jesus said to the first disciples: “Foxes have their dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Mt 8:20).
Lent is a time to establish peace in your heart. An opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation, correction, and reevaluation of opinions, attitudes, and opinions that destroy inner peace and joy.
Sprinkling the head with ashes is a symbolic gesture of a new beginning. Ashes are created by burning something, not just last year’s branches blessed on Palm Sunday. Fire destroys, but at the same time, it allows a new life to begin. During combustion, the activity of fire produces heat and light. It is possible to deduce from them what people and God expect from us. Christ does not want our destruction, but our life.
Ash is dust. Faith teaches us that our natural life will end in dust. The body succumbs to corruption, only the soul passes through death to a new life, when the glorified body will follow it in the resurrection. Lent and the thought of the cemetery, death, and what will follow for each of us, are not unnecessary. Vice versa. Christ’s suffering and death for us end with the Easter alleluia, the resurrection when Christ conquered death so that we have eternal life.
New life is also associated with ashes. It is being built again on the burn site. A new, more beautiful, more beneficial thing is created when a person understands that life must go on.
Let’s also recall another image: During Lent, gardeners make the final preparations so that the harvest will be rich. However, they are not immune to frost. That is why they are breeding new varieties of trees, more resistant to frost so that the harvest is more certain. However, when a gardener expects frost, setting a fire and using smoke in the garden can at least partially protect the crop, as long as the frost is not very severe.
That is why the Christian does everything: he thinks, he acts, and he is not satisfied with less, but longs for great ideals. Lent is the time to prove that we will not be influenced by disgust, but will be open to the needs of our soul and salvation, as well as those of our neighbors. We realize that a living desire for God will protect us from mediocrity and conformity. Frequent meetings with Christ during Lent in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will enrich our spiritual life with new light and guide us on the way to follow Christ as his witness.
Lent is also a challenge to show the world that it is wrong when it underestimates, ironizes, and recognizes the practices of fasting. Yes, by fasting in the spirit of losing weight, a person can survive illnesses at another time. During the time of liturgical fasting, however, many of us come together and united spiritually and physically through prayer, we can overcome ourselves and encourage and inspire others to change as well.
Let’s remember something from Lent in our life that can serve us for specific deeds. Let’s experience Lent together. For example, we strengthen the fraternal community that we are to experience fully in heaven. Let’s protect ourselves from bad examples, offense, and sin.
Last year, the high school class collected a thousand crowns by giving up sweets and donating the saved money to an institution for mentally disabled children, to their peers.
During Lent, the family limited their television viewing to news only, and at the end of Lent, everyone stated that it was the most beautiful Lent. They had time to talk, play, and pray together.
There is one less smoker in the world. Johann tried it through fasting without a cigarette and has not smoked for a year.
The number of children and men in the church increased in the parish. Yes, they started with a controlled event in the church, which was appropriately rated after Easter. Since then, several have continued to regularly participate in the holy mass even on working days.
Ivana is a girl who is admired by many girlfriends and boys today. Why? She gave up sweets and dinner during the fast and started exercising regularly. She became more pleasant, and kinder, so she decided to continue even after the fast. She is a beautiful, slim young lady who has also changed her expression and behavior.
Five years ago, Vlado started reading Holy Scripture during Lent. Who among us can say like him: I have read it all, Old and New Testament. Today, he can also quote from the Scriptures appropriately. His life is marked by Scripture. He won’t go to seminary, but many girls are already noticing him. He is fair, honest, tactful, and sociable, and especially he feels that he has found what gives strength to live, God.
There are more changes. Isn’t it ours too? In what and with what intention to enter the fasting period? That we are not cowards, it is right to be weak. Today’s world needs conscious and holy Christians.
It is right that we don’t stop at Lenten songs and, after all, only today. Because that would not be the same towards God, the Church, the parish, or towards oneself. The words are a challenge: “Christ, for this suffering, give us a source of the holy faith, preserve us, Christ!” Amen. (JKS 121.4).
