Let us be people of sacrifice.

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. And that is why the words of Jesus apply: “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23).

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 actually 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 hallelujah, the resurrection when Christ conquered death so that we may 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 one emerges 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’s why they breed new varieties of trees, more resistant to frost so that the harvest is more certain. However, when the gardener expects frost, by setting fire and using smoke in the garden, he can at least partially protect the crop as long as the frost is not too strong.

This is precisely why a Christian does everything, thinks, acts, 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 the soul and the salvation of ourselves and 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 witnesses. 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 liturgical fast, however, many of us come together and united spiritually and physically in 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.