Ash Wednesday – 5th March 2025
Where has the time gone, one minute it was Christmas, and now we are here at Ash Wednesday, starting our Lenten observances. The big question is what will happen next week, will we have already failed at the first hurdle, realising how on earth am I going to last for 40 days, if I can’t do the first week. As the saying goes: ‘at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.’ When we do falter on our Lenten goals, place a line under our failings and start afresh the next day.
Prayer is important, to give us strength in order to endure until Easter. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are our three important key words for this season.
We have heard in the Gospel, that our left hand must not know what our right is doing. This means, all our almsgiving to charity must be done in secret. We should not be boasting to our friends about how much we have given. Because all that is done in secret, Our Heavenly Father will reward you.
When we pray, it is important to go somewhere peaceful, so we can ask the Lord for help and guidance. Saying additional prayers, like the Divine Office, or maybe you want to try a daily Rosary. Whatever you decide, you will feel the better for it, and all that is done in secret, Our Heavenly Father will reward you.
When you fast and give something up, it is normally something that we really enjoy, for me it will be Chinese takeaways, sweets and deserts, we should not be gloomy, but be happy and know what little food we do eat, Our Heavenly Father will reward you.
Today we put ashes on our foreheads, as a sign that we are sinners, and that we are truly sorry for all the hurt we have caused to others. This season is a time to correct our faults, purify our hearts, through the Sacrament of Penance, and grow in holiness.
There are many accounts in the Old Testament of people and prophets placing ashes on their heads as a sign of saying sorry. The prophet Daniel clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of repentance.
The sons of Israel assembled for fasting in sackcloth and placed dirt upon themselves.
The people of Nineveh and even the King himself was clothed in sackcloth and sat in ashes when they tried to return to God.
In the book of Genesis, God created Adam from the dust of the earth, and when we die, our bodies will become dust once again. We cannot take anything with us into heaven, only our immortal souls that will last forever.
So, let us today prepare ourselves for 40 days and nights, by asking the Lord to give us His grace, strength and stamina to complete the race that we are starting, so we can celebrate as one community in exaltation at end of our Lenten journey, as we rejoice at the Lord’s Resurrection this Eastertide.
Rev. Fr Philip Wrigley's Blog 