Repent.

"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust he shall return." —Genesis 3:19

It is once again a season of penance.

Do you think people were as excited as much as they were for Christmas and Valentine’s Day? Personally, were you? Have you prepared enough for this season? Just like how you went crazy hitting up the mall sales before Christmas? Or how you got anxious for days thinking how you’d spend Valentine’s day? For those people who wouldn’t think much of its core meaning, it is just the season for fasting and abstinence, and when a lot of people seemingly get lonelier. Or worse, they wouldn’t care about it at all.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Christians would have to receive ashes on their foreheads – and this symbolizes the very first step of reconciliation for the season. It is a day when you fast and abstain. Fasting refers to the religious observance of eating only one full meal in a day while abstinence refers to refraining one’s self from eating meat. These practices are observed on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, and optionally for all Fridays of Lent. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also greatly encouraged.

The passion and suffering of Christ is remembered for the whole season.  The Church emphasizes on the importance of giving respect to the divinity of His life of sufferings. There are certain rituals and practices done by the Catholic Church that encourage the faithful to payback His sacrifices by effortly offering one’s time, prayer, and sacrifice too.

These are only some of the basics you should know about this special Wednesday. It is in one’s heart where you should find the willingness to know more about the deeper meaning of the symbols and practices there are for the Season of Lent. It is a way of glorifying Him – to rush and seek for answers, and to spend time for reflections, just as how you sincerely and happily prepare for gifts during Christmas and Valentine’s. Give some time for Him. Give Him your gift of love and sacrifice.

This is only a question: Have you spared time to go and celebrate mass on this holy day? Or has the world gone very demanding that it made it impossible for you to give a little of your time for your Christian duty? If it it is YES with your whole heart and soul that you have, then good for you. You know you are blessed. If it is a NO – then brother, repent.

Remember this:

“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” —Mark 1:15