My Favorite Day of the of the Year

Ash Wednesday was celebrated yesterday which kicked off the Lenten season all over the world. For many Catholics, it meant another Holy Day of Obligation, a day of fasting and with the absence of meat during their meals.

It was a dreary rainy day that signified the beginning of the struggle that Jesus Christ encountered before He was crucified. It began the weeks of sacrifice, for it is tradition that one gives something up that is dear to them for the forty days of Lent. For example, I am refraining from going on Facebook or Myspace until Easter.

 The Mass  completely contradicted everything I expected Lent to be. It was amazing.

One of the many things that struck me throughout the liturgy was the number of people who attended. Usually, Masses are not well attended and before yesterday, I had only been to one Mass that was standing room only and that was when the Cardinal came to say Mass.

It truly inspired me to to think and reflect. There were many people there that I knew, and didn’t really know if they were Catholic, Christian or religious at all. It was very impressive to me to see all of these people brought together to signify the start of the Lenten season.

 During the Homily, Father Steve spoke about how many people, (like I did) can sometimes dread Lent, and see it as forty days of mourning before Christ’s death. No, this is not how Catholics view Lent. It is a period in which one can become closer to God, and to strenghten their relationship with God. It is a way to discern in one’s life what is truly important and to make commitments to a relationship with God.

 As the ashes were distributed upon the follower’s foreheads, the words from Mark’s Gospel were spoken, “Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel” (Mark 1:15)

Upon reflection, this is what I am going to mull upon throughout these forty days, and look forward to the celebration of Christ’s Ressurection.