Joel 2:12-18 / 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:2 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
The word "Lent" comes from an old English word meaning "springtime" or "lengthen"
It means that, as in springtime, the daylight hours are slowly getting longer, and therefore the word “lengthen”.
For the Church, the season of Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, penance, almsgiving and works of charity.
It is a time of spring-cleaning our hearts with prayer and penance, and turning back to the Lord in repentance.
It is also to turn away and to discard the impure and sinful habits that we have become addicted to.
Because these have covered up the light that we have received at our Baptism, leading us to live darkened lives.
On this Ash Wednesday, we are also reminded that our pleasures and desires will eventually turn to dust and ashes.
The imposition of the blessed ashes is a profound reminder of our earthly finality.
At the same time, the ashes also remind us of our eternity, that the Lord God our Saviour, will raise us up from the dustheap of ashes and to give us eternal life.
Let us joyfully begin the season of Lent, and to be faithful to the spiritual practices of prayer, penance and almsgiving.
The Lord our God will bless and reward us for being faithful to Him.