On Wednesday, we will gather as God’s beloved to be marked with the sign of the cross in ashes, a sign not only of our humanity, but also a reminder that we belong to Christ.  The Church gives us the season of Lent so that we can slow down, to take account of where we’ve been on our spiritual journey, and to focus on where we want to go.  Ash Wednesday is a time for us to recommit ourselves to following Jesus more closely during the Lenten season and beyond. 
 
Lent is a time for us examine our hearts and to reassess the direction in which we are moving.  Are we on the right road?  Could we do better?  Are we giving God enough room in our lives? During Lent, we are invited to repent by doing three things – praying, fasting, and the doing of good works.  The word repentance simply means changing ourselves for the better.  Repenting is turning around and moving forward.
 
As we prepare to begin Lent, our Gospel this weekend speaks to the importance of self-reflection.  Before we criticize others, we should first take the time discover our own shortcomings and faults.  As we spend time examining ourselves, we are invited to move forward, never forgetting that we are God’s beloved.  Self-reflection is not about beating ourselves up for the mistakes we have made, but rather, it is the springboard for us to dive more deeply into God’s love and mercy.  
 
In these last few days before Lent, let us commit to looking inward, so that we can identify the areas in our own lives where we need God’s grace and mercy so that we can stand together, marked with ashes, pledging to journey with Christ on our Lenten journey.  
 
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.
 
+Harry