Ashes to ashes

Following the age-old custom, Catholics who began the season of Lent today gathered in churches and other places today to pray and to have ashes imposed on their foreheads. Every time this day arrives, there are some who are conscious of the fact that once they have visited the church and the ashes have been placed on their foreheads (in a cruciform shape or otherwise), others who look upon them might tend to 'remind' them that their faces are dirty.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact it is one way of witnessing to the world about our faith, about the call for all Christians to follow the disciplines of Lent and to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

The liturgical season of Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday and covers a period of 40 days leading up to the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday) each day of which has its own liturgical significance (but more about that later).

This year, the celebration of Ash Wednesday coincides with the timing of the Winter Olympics, and this latter provides a wonderful jump-off point in order to understand a bit about what Lent is all about.

Athletes from across the world have gathered in Vancouver to compete in the Winter Olympics. For the next week and a half, they will exhibit the best in competition and sport. It's a treat to watch so many people in such top form all of whom are competing for the laurel crowns and the famous medals, but do we stop for a moment every so often to truly understand what it takes for these competitors to reach this level of fitness?

How many hours have they spent in the gym? How many times have they run and re-run their various routines, races and competitions? How many of them have known only too well the deep valleys of defeat as they have competed at various levels in order to get to this podium? How many of them have truly had to face the demons that tempt us to give up in the quiet hours of training?

Facing the demons is perhaps a modern-day way of understanding what Lent is all about. All Christians are invited to enter this period as an opportunity to face their own demons, to overcome temptations bit by bit and to set our sights anew on the promise of resurrection first lived by Christ himself, and promised to each of us on the day of our baptism.

It is fitting then that this 40-day period leads us to the celebration of the Easter or Paschal Triduum and the ultimate joy of the resurrection which is fetted for a period of 50 days during the season of Easter.

Throughout the coming 40 days, it will be good to take a look through the eyes of scripture, and incorporating the realities of modern-day in order to help readers to deepen their understanding and appreciation for this holy season.

It all begins with the exhortation spoken by the priest as ashes are imposed on the foreheads of all believers: 'Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return'. From this humble beginning, great things can and will happen. Come along then for the journey!