Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday - the solemn beginning of Lent - the 40 days of in which  we remember the sacrifice of Jesus for our redemption. Wikipedia says  the purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, alms giving, and denial of ego. This event is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman Catholic Churches. Thus, we Catholics are not alone in our observance of Lent.

These 40 days I'm going to step back from media among other things. I'll be posting infrequently as I try to observe more prayer and meditative time. I'll probably post on Sundays because Sundays are not a part of Lent since they are days of the Resurrection, not of fasting and penance and therefore days of Joy.  

As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst...'Repent and believe' Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor -- He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.                         ....St. Teresa of Calcutta