February is known to be the month of love. While Christmas decorations are still up and 75% off, retail store shelves are packed with hearts of all shapes and sizes and heart-shaped boxes containing a variety of chocolates and candy. Although a box of chocolates does not represent the love in one’s heart, the receiver of such a gift is thrilled to receive it. Who doesn’t love chocolate in one form or another? Some believe chocolate is a vegetable!
This year Ash Wednesday lands on the 22nd day of February and marks the beginning of Lent. Just ‘yesterday’ we were preparing for the coming of Emmanuel into our world during the Advent season, and we now find ourselves in a wilderness season of repentance known as Lent.
On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our mortality and of our need as sinners to confess our sins daily and to reconcile and resolve with the Sacred. Confession and repentance should be a daily practice, and we often forget how fragile our lives can be as accomplices in and part of a broken and hurting world. Fasting reminds us to let go of the things we idolize and distract us from deepening our relationship with our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. A common practice is giving up these habits for the duration of Lent.
May we remember during the upcoming season of Lent the significance of repentance, confession, and human mortality and that it is the Greatest Gift and Love of all time, Jesus that saves us from ourselves and transforms us into the version of self that reflects and emulates the unconditional love displayed on the cross for humanity.
Wilderness blessings,
Pastor Iraida