ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE MEANING OF LENT

Ash Wednesday, which we observe today, is a centuries-old tradition that initiates the 40 days of Lent prior to Easter. The smudge of ash applied on our foreheads in the shape of a cross sets the tone for Lent by reminding us of our frailty and mortality as humans, and our need for repentance. We are blessed, said Christ, when we are mournful and feeling meek (Matthew 5:4-5).

Lent invites us to reflect on Jesus’ 40-day fast and temptation in the desert. Doing so with prayer and by renouncing our excesses seems more important than ever in today’s quick-paced society in which we’re pressed to dream the impossible dream of happiness through success, recognition and wealth, and with media sponsors reminding us every day how much we need their products. Pursuing happiness this way keeps us from reaching our spiritual potential. A bit less pampering, however, less catering to our primitive impulses during Lent, can help us reassess life’s menu more accurately and acquire the beatitude that Jesus spoke about in his Sermon on the Mount.

Many people, during Lent, refrain from certain treats in addition to observing the Church precept of abstaining from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But we might also decide to pray more each day, read religious books, or give up bad habits like complaining, gossiping, boasting or spending too much time on social media or television. And why not supplement these practices with acts of kindness? These are all excellent ways to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.  

The observance of Lent, in other words, is not about abstinence for its own sake, but to better indulge in God. It can be a big step in our spiritual growth by helping us break free from what keeps us tied down too often. Resisting some of our natural instincts helps shrink our ego and allows more space in our heart for God and for those around us, drawing us all closer to one other.  

In this way, Lent invites us to not only look inward, but also to reach out to others, especially those in need. Stepping out of ourselves reminds us of our faith’s deeper meaning, and that we are still alive spiritually and much more than mere automated servants to the demands of our egos. Every sacrifice we make, even small ones, any amount of self-denial, whether it’s giving up a favourite treat or dedicating time to help others, cultivates that selflessness a little bit more each time and strengthens our spirit that much more. So, it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

One of my favourite saints, St. John of the Cross, used to say that what is denied to our senses strengthens the soul, and what is offered to our senses weakens the soul. Maybe even more importantly, though, Christ teaches us in Matthew 6:16-18 that any sacrifice is much more valuable when it’s done in all humility, privately between us and God.

In our busy lives in the modern world, when it’s so easy to neglect our spiritual wellness, Lent is an ideal time to re-assess our priorities and re-align them with the teachings of Christ who taught us, by his example, the importance of self-sacrifice. 

May Lent, this year, be a time of deep transformation in which we examine our lives with renewed faith, hope and love, bringing us closer each day to the joy of celebrating Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, with all that it means.

Eugene Aucoin is a retired human resources director and university professor. He spoke around the world about nurturing human potential, but his passion is sharing his love for the teachings of Jesus. His first book Has Science Killed God? won Asia’s best Catholic book of the year in theology in 2020. His latest book, with Novalis, is The Beatitudes: Eight Steps to Inner Peace and Happiness. Eugene also gives seminars about faith.