Dear Parishioners,
Inevitably, Ash Wednesday will be a very crowded day
in our church. People will no doubt come
to “get ashes.” Despite the fact that
the day is not a holy day of obligation in which we are required to attend Mass—psst, please don’t tell anyone!—people
will be here throughout the day looking for those ashes. Sometimes, they will even come to the rectory
door at all odd hours because they don’t want to be without those blessed ashes.
If I look at this phenomenon
from a positive angle, I hope and pray that people see the need for repentance and a change of life. I pray that
they heed the call to conversion. I pray also that they truly open
their lives to Jesus and want to turn away from sin.
The logical follow-up during the
Lenten season would then be a desire to
attend Mass more frequently. There
should be an increase in the use of the Sacrament
of Penance and Reconciliation. Time for prayer and meditation should
grow. Certainly, we should see more generosity, kindness and compassion
in all of us. In the end, we should be
spiritually renewed and prepared for the great events of the Easter Triduum.
This is my sincere hope and
prayer.
Unfortunately, there will be
those who approach the ashes in a superstitious
manner or with a misunderstanding that places more importance on this sacramental than it truly deserves. I used to tell my students in high school quite
bluntly that ashes (burnt palm) on the
forehead, in and of themselves, will not get someone into heaven. They are merely a symbol of repentance and mortality. Rather, Jesus, the Bread of Life, in the Holy
Eucharist is much more than any such symbol. The Holy Eucharist is, in fact, the real,
true presence of Jesus who was offered for
us on the cross and who is now offered to
us in Holy Communion.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. (John 6:
54-56)
Essentially, it is my duty as
one who preaches and teaches to help people to understand and to prioritize
what is essential for a Catholic (the
Holy Eucharist) and what is merely
helpful and a symbolic reminder for us (blessed
ashes). All of the seven sacraments
are life-giving—in essence, imparting
to us God’s grace—through various outward
signs. They are opportunities to
encounter Christ. We are fed,
nourished, healed, forgiven, strengthened, and sanctified by our
participation in these sacraments. Most
notably, the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
are the two sacraments that we are able to and should participate in frequently.
Please take Lent seriously. Heed the call to conversion. Put into
practice acts of prayer, fasting (self-denial) and almsgiving (charity).
Over everything else, fall in love with Jesus. I say this not in some superficial, romantic
way but as our essential, unconditional response to the Son of God who loved us unto death.
Fr. Ed
Namiotka
Pastor
Thanks Fr. Ed for keeping us on track
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