Our Gospel instructs us to not worry about our life. This is a difficult statement which is made of us because there is a lot for us to be concerned with in the midst of our life. Despite this truth we so often forget about the Lord who is always in our midst. We fail to turn towards Him in the midst of trial and need and thus we turn ourself towards so much which can never truly fill the longing of our heart.
Lent is our opportunity to question the many ways in which we have failed to allow God to enter into our midst. The many ways in which we have allowed our passions to conquer our relationship with Him. Lent is an invitation for us to place our trust upon the Lord rather then the many ways of the world through which we are distracted from this reality.
Thus throughout the course of the Lenten season we will fast, pray, and give alms in order that we may build up virtue within our life. To fast is to deprive our senses of something in order that we may be drawn close to God. To pray is to further develop a relationship with God which is so necessary in the midst of this world which is filled with so much noise. To give alms is to give of ourself and thus practice good works which build up the Kingdom of God here on earth.
On Thursday our parish will hold its Lenten penance service. On this night we will have many priests here to hear confessions and thus to absolve sin. This is an invitation for us to return to the Lord and His mercy. It is an invitation for us to place our trust in His midst. It was Christ Himself who has given us this most wonderous sacrament of mercy and thus how can we deny our need to make use of this sacrament. Thus a good confession places our trust upon Lord and gives us reason not to worry for through this sacrament we can know that our sin is forgiven.
To bear ashes upon our forehead on Ash Wednesday is a public proclamation that is made that we are a sinner; a sinner who is in need of the Lord's mercy. Thus the mark of ashes proclaims our need to make use of this sacrament of our Lord's mercy and to be set free from this burden of sin.
As we embark upon this Lenten season may we find ways to place our trust in the Lord. There is so much at work within our life which distracts us from this relationship, but nevertheless we still receive this invitation to place our trust in Him. Indeed may we not worry about which lies ahead, but rather may we come to place our trust firmly upon the Lord.
