Ash Wednesday

I wouldn't be surprised if the last time I posted a blog was last year at this time. I know I was up in Chicago, and it was consistently 20 degrees. Brrr!

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. It is 46 days (not 40 as many think) before Easter Sunday. Many people know that during Lent Christians give up something - we fast from something to remind us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us on the cross. However, some of the Lenten traditions for Catholics and non-Catholics who choose to practice them are lesser known. A few that I learned only this year or so:

• Giving up meat on Fridays in Lent (Fridays are chosen to rember Good Friday - we make an extra sacrifice on the day the Lord actually died for us).
• Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday - the complicated rule is that you can have three small meals so that the two meals together do not equal the total of the third meal, and no snacking between meals. No meat.
• Going to church on Ash Wednesday and having a cross of ashes placed on your forehead to remind you that you are from dust and to dust you will return.
• Catholics cover up their crucifixes with a veil during Lent
• It is encouraged that Catholics go to confession during Lent, although it is best to go as often as possible or necessary.

Why do I speak of this? Well, I think that these traditions are very rich - each tradition serves a purpose, and helps us remember what our faith means. In fact, since Easter is the most important Christian holiday, Lent may be the most important time of year for all of us.

One focus is on our sins - we focus on our sins by abstaining from pleasures and to learn self-control. We confess our sins. And we are reminded of our own mortality. Each time we ponder these things, we are reminded that throughout our sins and our mortality and our failings, we have hope! We have been saved! Jesus died for us! Halleluia! Shout the good news!

And yet Lent, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday - they are all somber days. If you think about Good Friday, then you will know that the joy of the hope we feel comes with the pain of remembering the suffering that Jesus went through for us. Just like when any loved one dies, we feel the pain and yet have hope that the relative is in heaven or very soon will be.

So today I laugh. One game I have always loved is called, "What would our society look like to an outsider?" I think of Jewish holidays and wonder what our Christian holidays look like to them. The Jewish holidays described in the Old Testament don't sound very "fun." And yet, they were called "feasts" - joyous occasions. So look at us: We are fasting. We are hungry. We are giving up "fun" stuff. All to prepare to our most important day of the year.

Sure, Easter's fun. But I think even more fun - more exciting - is getting to live 46 days in serious contemplative preparation! To spend 46 days being constantly reminded of what Jesus did for us. To spend 46 days always remembering that we have the hope of salvation!

Every day of the year should be a little bit Lent - and a little bit Christmas and a little bit Easter and a little bit Good Friday. We should deny ourselves every day, in order to avoid sin. We should think every day of Christ giving up heaven to come to earth. We should remember every day that Christ conquered the grave. And we should think every day, every hour, and every minute that Jesus died for our sins, and we have been forgiven because of Him.